Groups, Representation and Democracy: Between Promise and Practice

Description

Whether called pressure groups, NGOs, social movement organisations or organised civil society, the value of 'groups' to the policy process, to economic growth, to governance, to political representation and to democracy has always been contested. However, there seems to be a contemporary resurgence in this debate largely centred on their democratising potential: can groups effectively link citizens to political institutions and policy processes? Are groups an antidote to emerging democratic deficits? Or do groups themselves face challenges in demonstrating their legitimacy and representativeness? This book debates the democratic potential and practice of groups; focussing on the vibrancy of internal democracies, and modes of accountability with those who join such groups and to the constituencies they advocate for. It draws on literatures covering national, European and global levels, and presents new empirical material from the UK and Australia -- .

Darren R. Halpin is Professor in Public Policy at the Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen -- .

This study should attract scholars interested in contemporary democracy and in domestic and international advocacy and public policy. Professor Ian Marsh, University of Tasmania Groups, Representation, and Democracy is destined to become an important and influential book. Dr. Halpin attempts nothing less than to arrive at a comprehensive understanding of the democratizing qualities of interest groups. The analysis is theoretically driven, empirically rich, and endlessly provocative. In the end, the author makes a persuasive case that previous analyses have failed to understand fully the democratizing influence of interest groups. In doing so, the author points us toward new ways to study and understand interest group politics. Tony Nownes