Party–interest group relations in Portugal: Organizational linkages and party strategies (2008–2015)

Abstract

This paper investigates the relations Portuguese parties establish with interest and societal groups. The analysis presents the organizational linkages on which parties rely for establishing connections and describes the different strategies implemented towards the interest and societal groups. The parties analysed vary in terms of ideology, organizational model and institutional position (governing vis-a-vis opposition parties). A special focus is set on the 2008–2015 period that comprises the outbreak of the economic crisis and the austerity policies implemented by the right-wing government between 2011 and 2015.