In person icon Rethinking Mechanisms of Interest Group Influence

Abstract

Measuring interest groups’ influence on policy outcomes remains a core concern in the interest group literature. Extensive research has explored the success of business and citizen groups, as well as how issue-level characteristics (e.g., salience) moderate the impact of group-level resources (e.g., financial means, group type). However, key dimensions of interest group influence remain underexplored. This panel invites contributions that refine and expand our understanding of how interest groups shape policymaking. First, earlier stages of the influence production process have received relatively little attention. While access is often seen as a prerequisite for influence, its role remains insufficiently understood. Under what conditions does access translate into policy success? Are some groups better positioned to convert access into tangible influence? Similarly, while coalition-building is frequently cited as a resource redistribution strategy, we know little about how its effectiveness varies across political and institutional contexts. Second, studies of interest group influence have largely focused on policy outcomes, neglecting their role in agenda-setting. Interest groups do not only shape final policies—they also influence which issues enter the policymaking arena and which remain excluded. When are groups successful in keeping issues off the agenda? How do contextual factors shape agenda-setting strategies? We particularly welcome contributions that challenge the conventional dichotomy of citizen groups pushing issues onto the agenda while business groups seek to limit conflict expansion. Finally, most research on interest group success is situated in national contexts or the EU, leaving intergovernmental forums and international organizations largely understudied. This panel seeks to bridge this gap by exploring how interest groups navigate global governance and influence policy beyond the nation-state.

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