Interest Group Theory in Political Research

Abstract

A group theory of American politics was one of the earliest and remains one of the most systematic schemes for studying the political system. The analysis of pressure groups has contributed to our understanding of the many patterns of interaction by which the individual is related to politics in addi tion to his intermittent role as voter. Nevertheless, the litera ture of political groups has been highly critical. Systematic research is needed to build a working theory of how the member sees his several group relations, how group leaders are and may be held to account, and what the consequences of pressure poli tics are for coherence, continuity, and precision of public policy. Comparative studies of interests in different political systems today promise important advances in interest-group theory.