The transformation of the interest group systems in Germany and Switzerland has led to centralisation in the different sectors and a unification of actors under the roof of common peak associations. Formerly established corporatist settings were restructured and pluralist tendencies have become stronger. The UK has a stronger pluralist tradition, but features similar tendencies of an overall increase of civil society organizations. In all three countries, campaigning organizations from civil society are now important players on the political field and find themselves in competition with business interest associations, labour unions and the churches. They compete for access to policy-makers, they struggle to recruit members and supporters and they are aware that their reputation in the media is fragile. Competition pushes many organizations towards professionalization. We understand professionalization as a change towards a pro-managerial style, often related to the development of a professional communication management. We present first results from a large-n quantitative study on interest groups in Switzerland, Germany and the UK. Our survey looks across all policy sectors and captures protest business organizations, business interest associations, professional associations, and ‘organizations of organizations’ that are active in the civil sphere. Results are contextualized within the distinctive political traditions of the three countries. Changes in organizational structures and communication repertoires (direct mailing, media contacts, online communication tools etc.) and especially an increase of outsourcing of certain tasks like fundraising or member recruitment are at the heart of our research. We discuss our results about a professionalization of these organizations, especially in regard to the communication management, in the broader context of current interest group theories. Civil society organizations and interest groups may provide functional benefits beyond fostering participation of members by reducing the complexity of their political environments.
