The Formation and Survival of Interest Groups
The pluralist theory of democracy contends that interest groups are essential in keeping government responsive to its constituents. Interest groups are formulated to promote and advance the interests of its members while maintaining the survival of the group.(Latham, 1952) The following articles speak to how interest groups form and the role of the entrepreneur using two different visions. Most disturbing to the two different positions of interest group survival is the common notion that the voice of the interest group may not be that of the group.
The first article focuses on the role of entrepreneurs in relation to the formation of interest groups and the exchange relationship which develops between the organizer and group members. (Salisbury,1969) According to Salisbury, successful leaders are driven by the need for organizational survival, recruitment of members, and the …show more content…
Olson (1965) discusses the use of selective benefits to overcome the free rider problem but does not really specify who would provide the incentives. Salisbury expands Olson’s framework to show how such incentives are provided. Salisbury proposes that individual entrepreneurs, much like small businessmen, create groups by offering potential members, material, solidary or expressive benefits in exchange for group membership. Salisbury replaces purposive incentives with expressive benefits suggesting that individuals join groups that express their beliefs and values. Salisbury links purposive benefits with public goods because individuals can support a group advocating for a particular cause without actually joining that group. The key to the success of an interest group using the exchange theory is to entice enough dues paying members to sustain the
The pluralist theory of democracy contends that interest groups are essential in keeping government responsive to its constituents. Interest groups are formulated to promote and advance the interests of its members while maintaining the survival of the group.(Latham, 1952) The following articles speak to how interest groups form and the role of the entrepreneur using two different visions. Most disturbing to the two different positions of interest group survival is the common notion that the voice of the interest group may not be that of the group.
The first article focuses on the role of entrepreneurs in relation to the formation of interest groups and the exchange relationship which develops between the organizer and group members. (Salisbury,1969) According to Salisbury, successful leaders are driven by the need for organizational survival, recruitment of members, and the …show more content…
Olson (1965) discusses the use of selective benefits to overcome the free rider problem but does not really specify who would provide the incentives. Salisbury expands Olson’s framework to show how such incentives are provided. Salisbury proposes that individual entrepreneurs, much like small businessmen, create groups by offering potential members, material, solidary or expressive benefits in exchange for group membership. Salisbury replaces purposive incentives with expressive benefits suggesting that individuals join groups that express their beliefs and values. Salisbury links purposive benefits with public goods because individuals can support a group advocating for a particular cause without actually joining that group. The key to the success of an interest group using the exchange theory is to entice enough dues paying members to sustain the