C6 - Interest Group

INTEREST GROUPS
SEM 1, 2014/ 2015
PSCI 2210
SECTION 1 AND 2

DEFINED AS
 Organizations which have some autonomy from
government or political parties , with the objective
to influence public policy [ but not to take over the
leadership/government].
 Example : Employers’ organisation, bodies
representing specific industries and professions
and broader campaigning organizations seeking
to promote their particular cause.
- CUEPACS (Congress of Union of Employees In
the Public and Civil Services in Malaysia , Bar
Council, AWAM (All Women’s Action Society)

TYPES OF INTEREST GROUP
1) PROMOTIONAL – Advocate ideas, policies and
values such as attitudes, cause and also
campaign groups.
Example : Pro/ anti- abortion group, environmental
movements and women movements.
Membership : open to all irrespective of races,
social status [rich, poor], level of education,
religion.
Status: Outsider, Not consulted often by
government , hence they emphasize on media.
Benefits : both non-member and members
[collective]
Focus : International – group may seek to influence
bodies such as EU and global public opinion

EXAMPLE :
 AWAM
 Values : Bring forward women concerns to
decision makers i.e. domestic violence.
 Benefit : Enactment of Domestic Violence Act
1994 – benefits all women (members and
non-members) AND in 2001, the inclusion of
“gender” in Article 8 of the Federal
Constitution.

…
 Benefit : Enactment of Domestic Violence Act 1994 –
benefits all women (members and non-members)
AND in 2001, the inclusion of “gender” in Article 8 of
the Federal Constitution.
 Focus : International : In 2005, it received support
from European Union in it efforts to engage young
women in writing through a program “Writers for
Women's Rights Programme (WWRP)”

2 ) PROTECTIVE GROUP
It protects the material interests of the members.
Example : Malaysia – CUEPACS ( civil servants),
BAR council
( legal practioners)
Aim : To influence the government and have
sanctions to help them achieving their goals.
Usually, if the government refuses , these groups
they will go on strike.
Membership : closed and restricted.
Why ? This is because they represent a clear
occupational interests as the AIM is to defend the
interests of all members,

…
frequently by government.
Benefit : Only the group members
Focus : National when they are able to influence
national government.
Example : CUEPACS [300,000 members]
Membership : Civil servants
Aim : July 2005 : Five days working in a week – affected
civil servants only.
In 2014 – CUEPACS suggested RM 1,200 minimal
wage for civil servants. On October 2015, the
government announced that it would increase
minimum wage to RM 1,200 (affected 60 k civil
servants and will take effect middle of 2016)
Hence what about private employees ? Not affected .

PEAK ASSOCIATION
 DEFINED : organisation representing the broad
interests of capital and labor to government. Members
are not individuals but other organizations such as
firms , trade associations or labor unions.
 Example :
 1) CUEPACS
 Objective (one of them ) : Melindungi kepentingan
kesatuan-kesatuan sekerja gabungan dan anggota-
anggotanya
 Trans : To protect the interest of the affiliate of trade
unions and their members
 Example of trade unions in CUEPACS :

…
 2) MTUC ( Malaysian Trade Union Congress)
 MTUC : an umbrella for unions in the private
sector
 Objective : Advise unions.
 Member trade unions : Sabah Mining Employees
Union
Sabah Petroleum Industry Workers Union ,
Association of Maybank Executives, Kesatuan
Kakitangan Puncak Niaga (M) Sdn Bhd., National
Union of Hotel, Bar & Restaurant Workers,
Peninsular Malaysia, Kesatuan Pekerja-pekerja
Alam Flora Sdn.Bhd.

PLURALISM AND CORPORATISM :
COMPARE
 1) Groups are autonomous.
 Freedom of association: people are free to organize
their own interests. Society dominating the state and
the task of the government is to respond to the
interest expressed by it. Further no single elite
dominate the entire sphere of government- different
interest groups lead the way in each area of policy.
Thus, the society has the upper hand.
 2) Government does not control access to
decision-making process.
 Groups compete on an equal level playing field.
Government show little bias as politics form an open
competitive market with few entries to entry. State is
the umpire/referee but does not try to control it.
Government’s role: respond to interests groups.

….
 3) Competition for influence: IG of different
sides of an issue freely can compete for the
attention of legislature and other authoritative
decision-makers to influence their decisions.
Minimal or no direction / control by the
government/state.

Example : United States
 Politics of Health Care Reform (1993-1994)
 The President (Bill Clinton, Democrat) made an
announcement to reform the nation’s health care
system. The proposal would insure 37 million
Americans .
 To finance the program :
- Tobacco, alcohol taxes had to increased ( to
subsidize the poor) [ popularly called as ‘sin
taxes’].

…
 The proposal receives negative responses: .
1) The Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA)
- Controlled 35% of private health insurance market,
271 companies.
- Represented it as defender of public interests-
consumers. With Clinton plan, consumers are not
able to choose their own private plan.
- Represents small and midsized insurance
companies. Argued they were left out and may be
forced out of business. Used USD 15 million to
criticize the proposal through media such as TV
commercials, print and media commercials.
- Famous advertisement “ Harry and Louise”.

…
2) National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).
-Disagreed when employers were required to pay 80%
of employees’ health premium.
Its 600,00 members used direct mail and phone to
mobilize action against Clinton’s plan
 About 49 IG spent 50 million on broadcast and print to
sway opinion against or for the proposal.
 US Political system in 1994- Democrats control both
houses but unable to maintain party unity. A few of
Democrats did not support Clinton’s bill.
 Groups opposing to Clinton’s proposal plan spent
about USD 46.1 million in the campaign.

CORPORATISM/
CORPORATIST
 1) Relationship between state and society are co-
operative. The relationship is on the basis of ideology
of social partnership. Hence, groups are not
autonomous. The policy made – through private
negotiations with ministers. For instance, the
representatives (peak associations) and state works
out deals on issues and meet on regular basis with
the executive branch. (PM, cabinet ministers and key
bureaucracies).
 2) Government control access to decision-making
process. State play more active role. Non-equal level
of competition. I Groups do not fight as outsiders.
States plays role not only in intermediary of groups
but organise, recognize and identify which group to be
included in the following process. Role of government
– provide leadership to a pact shared by society

…
 3) Formal relationship between government
and interest group.
 Interest groups are incorporated into the system,
and often controlled or regulated by it (state).
Instead, the government invites them to join
political decision-making process. For instance, in
Sweden, the Governmental office of Labour
Market is composed of business and labor IG
group members who would use their government
positions to implement government policy.

Example :
 1) Leaders of peak associations meet on regular
basis with the executive branch in relevant
ministries. Executives’ roles are more important
than legislators.
 2) The representatives ( of peak associations)
work out deals on issues such as taxes, wages
and working conditions.
 3) Once agreements are worked out, business
and labour groups return to their members and
get responses. Usually, the leaders exert
pressure on the membership to go along with the
deals they have worked on.
 4)Agreement passed into law. Failed –

C6 - Interest Group

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