Interest Groups, Coalitions & Networks

Abstract

This panel examines how interest groups pursue lobbying influence through engagement in coalitions and networks. Moving beyond analyses of individual organizations, the contributions emphasize relational interest group politics, showing how coordination, brokerage, and alignment among actors shape lobbying strategies and policy outcomes. A first shared theme concerns coalition formation as a strategic response to political and institutional constraints. Across policy domains and levels of governance, interest groups form, adapt, or exit coalitions to expand access, pool resources, and enhance legitimacy. Second, the panel underscores that coalition politics are inherently dynamic rather than static. Alliances evolve as policy debates develop, regulatory frameworks are revisited, and political environments shift due to institutional change. Coalition structures and roles are therefore continuously renegotiated over time. Third, the panel highlights heterogeneity within and across coalitions. Contributions show that coalitions often unite actors with divergent interests, including firms, NGOs, academics, and transnational organizations. This raises questions about internal cohesion, divisions of labor, and the distinction between substantive and strategic alignment. Several papers interrogate whether expressions of policy support or shared values reflect genuine convergence of interests or instrumental positioning aimed at sustaining influence.

Title	Details
Coalition Building with Expertise: An Empirical Network Analysis of Academia as a Lobbying Intermediary	View Paper Details
Dealing with Deregulation: Civil Society and the Omnibus I Proposal	View Paper Details
Delegation and Coalition-Building in Multi-Level-Lobbying	View Paper Details
Values for Better Coalitions? Interest Groups’ Argumentation in Climate Policy-Making	View Paper Details
Industry Interest-Groups and EU Climate Policy: From Foes, to Frenemies, or Friends?	View Paper Details