Populism and the Changing Dynamics of Party–Interest Group Relations Evidence from Central Europe

Populism and the Changing Dynamics of Party–Interest Group Relations Evidence from Central Europe Interactions between interest groups and political parties constitute a key dimension of contemporary democracies and provide important insights into the functioning of representative systems. While both actors seek to influence policy making and articulate societal interests, their relationship is increasingly shaped by broader transformations of party competition and political discourse. In Central Europe, the rise of populist parties has introduced new constraints on advocacy, contributing to a shrinking space for interest representation and altering established patterns of party–group interaction. This article examines how party populism affects the frequency and structure of contacts between interest groups and political parties in three Central European countries: the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia. We conceptualize populism as a political logic that tends to restrict access to decision-makers, delegitimize organized interests, and increase barriers to sustained advocacy. In addition, the study investigates which types of interest groups remain more active under these conditions, focusing on organizational type, policy domain, and resource endowment. Drawing on original large-scale survey data of organized interests and a dyadic analytical framework, we analyze how party-level populism interacts with organizational characteristics in shaping patterns of political access. We expect that higher levels of party populism are associated with lower frequencies of contact and more selective engagement. At the same time, groups with greater organizational resources, broader policy portfolios, and professionalized structures should be better prepared to maintain interactions with political parties, even in increasingly restrictive environments. The study will also take into account diverse national contexts and organizational profiles, highlighting the importance of both party-level dynamics and group-level capacities for understanding advocacy under illiberal and populist conditions in Central Europe.