Free Essay On What Is An Interest Group And How Do They Influence Politics

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An interest group is an organization where people with a common interest and work together in order to promote and protect that interest by influencing the government. Interest groups vary in tactics, aims, and size. According to political scientists, there are two major categories of interest groups: noneconomic interest groups and economic interest groups. There are four types of economic interest groups: professional associations, agricultural groups, labor groups, and business groups. Economic interest groups are the most common type of interest group; their main agenda is to seek economic advantage for their members. Economic interest groups are powerful and numerous because money has an important influence in capitalist societies. Economic interest groups are well funded since members contribute money as they have hopes of reaping greater profit and more significant political influence. Economic interest groups work to win private goods, which members of the groups will enjoy (Thisnation.com).
There are four types of noneconomic interest groups: government groups, ideological groups, public interest groups, and single-issue interest groups. The noneconomic interest groups are also called citizens’ interest groups. The noneconomic interest groups fight for causes of issues instead of working for material gain. Noneconomic interest groups work to win public goods to benefit not only members of the group but to benefit everybody in society.
Noneconomic interest groups offer their members informational benefits, solidarity benefits, and purposive benefits. Informational benefits include educational benefits members get after learning about issues that matter to them. Solidarity benefits include social benefits members get after meeting people they worked with to promote the cause. Purposive benefits are the psychological and emotional benefits members get after knowing they have contributed to a cause they feel is worthwhile (Thisnation.com).
Interest groups influence government and politics using inside game strategies and outside game strategies. In the inside game strategies, the interest groups members persuade government officials via direct inside contact (lobbying). In lobbying, interest groups send their members to government offices to put pressure on government officials. Interest groups organize lobbying to persuade members of the government to oppose or support particular pieces of legislation. Interest groups organize their members and mobilize them to influence the government and politics. In the outside game strategies, the interest groups convince citizens to put pressure on their government representative and political leaders. When using outside game strategies, interest groups achieve their goals through grassroots activism and electoral strategies.
Interest groups influence public politics in many ways. Interest groups influence membership of government and who becomes President by giving money to political candidates. Interest groups form a committee then give money to their preferred candidate whom they wish to be elected because he/she will favor their interests (Ushistory.org). Interest groups involve themselves in political campaigns and rallies, and for this reason, politicians should listen to them. The involvement of interest groups in political campaigns and elections helps to elect candidates who favor the positions of the interest groups and defeat candidates who oppose their agenda. Interest groups also work with political leaders and the government to draft legislation and policy initiatives. In addition, interest groups influence politics in that they provide information to a government and public on a wide range of issues that the government should address.

Works Cited

Ushistory.org. “Interest Groups.” Ushistory.org. N.p., 2015. Web. 14 Mar. 2015.
Thisnation.com. “Interest Groups.”Thisnation.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 14 Mar. 2015.