Interest Group Society / Edition 5

by Jeffrey M Berry

Overview

Debuting it its first edition, this book is organized around the approach that American politics can best be understood by examining the issues that reflect the ideas, principles, concerns, fears, morals and hopes of the American people. Debates, Differences and Divisions looks at twenty-five hot button issues affecting American politics and policy today. The author argues that these issues are the heart and soul of the American political system, serving as the basis for the disagreements that drive our political system into action.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	2900205604806
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	06/27/2008
Series:	MySearchLab Series 15% Off Series
Edition description:	Older Edition
Pages:	242
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Jeffrey M. Berry is professor of Political Science at Tufts University

Clyde Wilcox is a professor in the Government Department at Georgetown University

Table of Contents

Preface

Chapter 1
Madison’s Dilemma
Curing the Mischiefs of Faction
Interest Groups and Their Functions
The Rise and Fall of Pluralism
Pluralism as a Goal
Conclusion

Chapter 2
The Advocacy Explosion
The Interest Group Spiral
The Rise of Citizen Groups
Business Fights Back
Conclusion

Chapter 3
The Party Connection
The Advantages of Interest Groups
Working Together
Parties and PACs
Keeping Parties Straight and True
Conclusion

Chapter 4
Mobilization and Organization
Competing Theories
Supply of Benefits
Marketing Interest Groups: Direct Mail
Maintaining the Organization
Who Governs?
Making Decisions
Conclusion

Chapter 5
Lobbyists
A Day in the Life of a Lobbyist
Effective Lobbying
Lobbying as a Career
Lobbyists for Hire
Conclusion

Chapter 6
Public Opinion and
Grassroots Lobbying
Lobbying for Values
Educating the Public
Think Tanks
Demonstrations and Histrionics
Direct Citizen Lobbying
High-Tech Lobbying
Conclusion

Chapter 7
Political Action Committees
Movement for Reform
PACs and Political Finance
Does Money Matter?
Targeting and Cooperation
Conclusion

Chapter 8
Washington Lobbying
Congress
Executive Branch
The Courts
Strategic Decision Making
Conclusion

Chapter 9
The Rise of Issue Networks
Coalitions: EverdayPolitics
From Subgovernments to Issue Networks
The Qualities of Issue Networks
The Telecommunications Network
Conclusion

Chapter 10
Bias and Representation
Corporate Wealth and Political Advocacy
A Special Relationship
Beyond Business
Reform

Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

Praise for the Sixth Edition

For a decade, The Interest Group Society has been my go-to book when teaching students about interest groups. It applies major theoretical concepts to modern phenomena in a straightforward way, and its comprehensive treatment of the literature is well-integrated with careful consideration of current events. This new edition does not disappoint. I would recommend it as essential reading for any course that includes a focus on interest groups.

Amy McKay, University of Exeter

The Interest Group Society has provided the continuity in my courses on interest groups for over twenty years. No one does it better than Berry and Wilcox: They weave contemporary discussions of the changing legal and political environments, 527s, the Tea Party, and Black Lives Matter into the contextual tapestry of James Madison's classic dilemma and the most recent scholarship in the field. Each edition brings a new generation of students into the fascinating world of organized interests.

Kevin W. Hula, Loyola University Maryland

From the Publisher