The Role of Interest Groups in Democracy

Abstract

Interest groups constitute important channels for mobilizing citizens. Ideally, they work to ensure that the views of a wide range of citizens are considered in democratic processes. All groups are, however, not equally well mobilized and the groups who exercise pressure on governments may not represent the views of all citizens. Further, for many groups a tension exists between internal democratic functioning and professionalization. This panel presents a set of papers concerned with different aspects of the democratic role of interest groups. Papers will discuss factors related to the mobilization and functioning of groups, to the role played by specific types of groups in democratic politics and to the link between group mobilization and government responsiveness.

Title	Details
Non-State Actors in EU Foreign Policy-Making Towards Israel and Palestine: Playing a Consensual Role?	View Paper Details
Immigrant Advocacy in the EU – A Matter of Faith?	View Paper Details
Friends For Life? Does a Privileged Position in Relation to the Bureaucracy Increase Interest Groups Chance of Survival?	View Paper Details
External Shocks and Governmental Responsiveness to Public Opinion. A Case Study of Nuclear Energy Policy After the Fukushima Disaster	View Paper Details
Reconciling Professionalisation and Democracy in EU Lobbying: Representation as Advocacy	View Paper Details