Explain the concept of interest group liberalism. How is it defined? What is the historical context (provide example)? What are the problems at the core of this concept that make implementation of programs difficult?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Interest group liberalism describes the political setting in the United States in which the public interest tends to be defined in terms of the many private interests, especially those of better-organized groups. Implementation of a piece of legislation will differ greatly from the intentions of those who framed it. Theodore Lowi argues that the United States has moved from a government focused on concrete and specific policy objectives to more abstract policy goals. He uses the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 as an example of legislation with the clear objective of establishing standards of practice for interstate commerce. By the time of the 1914 Clayton Act, goals shifted to abstract standards of “unfair competition.” Such abstract language can lead to different ideas of effective implementation. Since the 1960s, government has shifted to regulating the “environment of conduct” through the tendency to pass social legislation. Problems with implementation are caused by the diffuseness of targets specified and the difficulty of defining standards. Vague and abstract language leads to errors in interpretation during implementation. Better organized groups will have the ability to impact policy implementers. Agencies that are tied to particular clients will carry out implementation with these clients in mind and the definitions of the public interest that they support.