Interest GroupsInterest Representation
(Cont’d)
March 13th, 2003
What Interest Groups Do -- Lobbying tactics
quiet consultations lobbying elected officials lobbying bureaucratic officials
mobilizing public opinion media campaigns public demonstrations
the paradox of interest group influence the most powerful interest groups are
often the most quiet!
Interest Groups and Democracy liberal democracy
pluralism as long as individuals are free to
form interest groups, interest group competition represents interests in society
groups do not have to be equal; groups have to have equal opportunity to compete
Interest Groups and Democracy majoritarian democratic critique of
interest group pluralism interest group politics is grossly uneven
well-financed, privileged interests hold the advantage
the paradox of interest group influence the strongest interest groups (e.g.
economic interests) do not have to lobby in order to have influence
interest group influence displaces the influence of the general public
special interest groups
Interest Groups and Democracy elite democracy
interest group competition and lobbying (even if grossly uneven) is fine so long as...
political elites retain the power to make overall decisions in the general welfare
• the summation of all interest group demands does not equal the general welfare
Federal and Unitary Systems
Territorial Representation in Democratic Systems
March 13th, 2003
Organizing Territory
Options for Organizing TerritoryLarge Unitary Gov’t
Small Unitary Gov’ts
Organizing Territory
what is good about small, unitary governments
close to the people can represent specific needs of specific
area and groups (linguistic/ethnic) that live within those areas
what is good about large, unitary government?
may be more effective• common security
• integrated economy may protect against domination of minorities
by majorities
Options for Organizing Territory
Confederation
Large Unitary Gov’t
Federalism
Small Unitary Gov’ts
Options for Organizing Territory
Confederation
Large Unitary Gov’t
Federalism
Small Unitary Gov’ts
Unitary Government: may have different levels of government; however, subordinate governments exist at the behest of the central government
Options for Organizing Territory
Confederation
Large Unitary Gov’t
Federalism
Small Unitary Gov’ts
Unitary Government: may have different levels of government; however, subordinate governments exist at the behest of the central government
Confederation: sovereign governments band together and delegate certain powers to a central government; constituent governments retain the right to rescind this grant of power; central government exists at the behest of constituent units
Options for Organizing Territory
Confederation
Large Unitary Gov’t
Federalism
Small Unitary Gov’ts
Unitary Government: may have different levels of government; however, subordinate governments exist at the behest of the central government
Confederation: sovereign governments band together and delegate certain powers to a central government; constituent governments retain the right to rescind this grant of power; central government exists at the behest of constituent units
Federal Government: has two orders of government which are legally independent from one another and sovereign within their respective spheres of jurisdiction; neither exists at the behest of the other and neither can take power away from the other
Federalism
24 federations of 180 sovereign states 40% of world population
Options for Organizing Territory
Confederation Unitary Gov’t
Federalism
European Union (EU)
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, US, Venezuela, Yugoslavia
France United Kingdom Italy
Federalism – What is It?
main elements two orders of government
NOT levels of government division of powers
constitutional grant of powers and jurisdiction to each order of government
judicial review court adjudicates between the two orders
of government
Federalism – Why?
always about representing territorially-based interests that would not be adequately represented in a unitary system while enjoying benefits of larger system
Federalism – Variants
centralized and decentralized federalism
Level of Centralization
(Confederation)
Large Unitary Gov’t
Federalism
Decentralized Federation
Centralized Federation
Small Unitary Gov’ts
Level of Centralization
Decentralized Federation
Centralized Federation
Canada Switzerland
Australia Germany United States
Malaysia
Level of Centralization
(Confederation)
Large Unitary Gov’t
Federalism
Decentralized Federation
Centralized Federation
US 2002
Small Unitary Gov’ts
US 1789
Canada 2002 Canada 1867
Main Points!
federalism is not neutral it is about emphasizing the
representation of territorially-based interests (e.g. ethnic, religious, linguistic) while de-emphasizing those that are not
federalism in different countries is designed to represent different sets of territorially-based interests