210159 SE M7: State Activity, Policy and Governance Analyses (2022W)

Content of the course
This course addresses the two main types of organized political actors in democracies: political parties and interest groups and the relationship between them. It concentrates on politics at the national level in established democracies and is divided into three main parts. First, we examine and compare the historical roots, fundamental goals and organizational nature of parties and interest groups. What unify and distinguish them as political organizations, and how do they vary internally? Second, we look at parties and interest groups’ strategies and behaviour to reach their goals, outside but not least within or pertaining to the formal political institutions. Attention is also paid to the organizational relationship between the two types of actors and the different ways interest groups may seek access to political parties (and vice versa). Third, and above all, we address the issue of political influence in public decision-making. Doing this, we situate parties and interest groups in the public policy process from the agenda setting stage to the adoption stage. How do political parties seek political influence in the legislature and in government, and how may interest groups influence public policy via political parties? Parties’ policy positions are per se less important than policy outcomes but in systems with relatively strong parties, influencing parties – both their election manifestos and legislative positions – is probably an important way of indirectly affecting policy adoption and outcomes. Moreover, we discuss what “policy” means in this context, according to existing research. Are the policy positions of parties and interest groups generally similar and possible to locate in the same “policy space”? Next, we summarize what the scholarly literature tells us regarding interest groups influence on political parties and public policy. What explain lobbying success of interest groups? When and why do parties and governments listen to interest groups? Finally, we look at the triangle of voters, parties, and interest groups. Does pressure from interest groups strengthen or weaken the link between voters and parties?
An overarching topic is what explains variation over time, within and across political systems and time periods. Different theoretical approaches and major empirical studies within these fields of research will be presented. Taken together, the course throws light on how both parties and interest groups shape the nature of democratic governance.