The connection between the government and citizens is essential in ensuring a decent level of life in the state and meeting the needs of different social groups. Thus, the proper cooperation between parties, interest groups, and the public contributes to expanding relevant policies aimed at citizens’ priorities. In this regard, it is crucial to identify the ways in which modern political parties reflect public opinion and interest group concerns.
Before analyzing the connections between the three mentioned concepts, it is reasonable to determine the functions or tasks of political parties and interest groups. According to Røed, political parties are key intermediary organizations having legislative and governing functions and serve as the link between the public and the state (1). Similar to the parties, interest groups also play the role of intermediaries. However, they accumulate the electorate’s interests, develop relevant policy responses, and direct them to further political decision-making (Røed 1). As one could already guess, the public opinion refers to the views prevailing in the society of a particular country.
Primarily, one should realize that interest groups have the hugest influence on political parties. However, the interest groups need to align their views with public opinion to ensure sound and significant interest representation. It suggests that public opinion plays a critical role in the survival of interest groups and their ability to access policy processes and attain success in lobbying (Rasmussen and Willems 4). Nevertheless, interest groups can also influence public opinion using traditional and new means (Dür 516). Thus, one cannot ignore the linkage between public opinion and interest groups because it pre-determines how political parties will reflect the concerns of society and interest groups.
When discussing the connection between interest groups and public opinion, it makes sense to identify how political parties can reflect both. On the one hand, political parties are believed to consider public opinion on issues, but due to policy positions available for taking, they face particular obstacles. One of them is participation in government, which makes parties pay less attention to public issue priorities and focus on opposition parties (Romeijn 429). This statement can make one think that political parties are more interested in their positions in government rather than in addressing public needs.
On the other hand, political parties may not reflect but rather shape public attitudes toward particular problems. Some scholars tend to think that political parties can deliberately use citizens’ lack of information and provide a specific interpretation of a problem and its possible solution beneficial for the parties (Dür 516). In view of this, public opinion may seem to be insignificant for politicians, but they feel the need to consider it at least partially to retain their power.
Nevertheless, there is an interesting phenomenon with reflecting interest groups’ concerns. One study employed a method that helped predict whether a political party would approve policy proposals made by interest groups (Dür 432). Notably, a policy can be adopted if the public support for it is high, which emphasizes the double-direction of relationships between citizens and political parties. Moreover, it suggests that interest groups should employ strong lobbying approaches to make political parties address issues raised by interest groups.
In conclusion, there are several challenges that impede political parties from properly reflecting public opinion and interest groups’ concerns. Political parties often need to balance their wish to have strong positions in government and satisfaction of citizens’ needs regarding various issues. However, there is always a chance that political parties will reflect policy proposals if they are supported by the public.
Works Cited
Dür, Andreas. “How Interest Groups Influence Public Opinion: Arguments Matter More Than the Sources.” European Journal of Political Research, vol. 58, no. 2, 2019, pp. 514-535.
Rasmussen, Anne, and Willems, Evelien. “Interest Groups. Public Opinion, and Political Representation.” The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Interest Groups, Lobbying and Public Affairs edited by Phil Harris, Alberto Bitonti, Craig S. Fleisher, and Anne Skorkjær Binderkrantz, Palgrave McMillan, 2020, pp. 1-10.
Romeijn, Jeroen. “Do Political Parties Listen to The(ir) Public? Public Opinion-Party Linkage on Specific Policy Issues.” Party Politics, vol. 26, no. 4, 2020, pp. 426-436.
Røed, Maiken. “When Do Political Parties Listen to Interest Groups?” Party Politics, vol. 0, no. 0, 2022, pp. 1-10.