Democracy and Interest Groups

Democracy and Interest Groups assesses the contribution that interest groups make to the democratic involvement of citizens and the generation of social capital. The authors draw on new surveys of groups and members and more unusually with non-participants. It also makes use of in-depth interviews with campaign group leaders and organizers.

'This is an innovative text which combines a solid theoretical analysis with the results of a substantial research project. The text should be read by any scholar with an interest in the broad field of participation and would make a welcome addition to any academic library.' - Political Studies Review

Autorentext

GRANT JORDAN is Professor of Politics at Aberdeen University, UK. His first book (with Jeremy Richardson) was Governing Under Pressure (1979). Other major titles are Shell, Greenpeace and Brent Spar (2001); The British Administrative System (1994); Government and Pressure Groups in Britain (1987); The Protest Business (1997) with William A. Maloney; and Engineers and Professional Self-Regulation (1992).

WILLIAM A. MALONEY is Professor of Politics, University of Newcastle, UK. His major research outputs include: The European Automobile Industry (1999) with Andrew McLaughlin; The Protest Business (1997) with Grant Jordan; and Managing Policy Change in Britain (1994) with Jeremy Richardson. He has recently completed an edited research volume (with Sigrid Roßteutscher) Social Capital and Associations in European Democracies (2006).

Inhalt
Looking for Democracy: The Democratic Contribution of Membership Based Interest Groups The Collective Action Paradox: What Incentives Induce Participation? Olson Defied? Making Interests: Creating Members? The Business of Building Group Membership Understanding Joining - and Not Joining The Social Capital and Democratic Potential of Campaigning Organizations Reinforcing Polyarchy: What Groups do for Democracy?