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