Shaping the Political Arena: A Comparative Approach Between American Lobby and Euro-Groups

摘要

Nowadays, interest groups are regarded as the efficient alternative to political parties, due to the pejorative image acquired through the process of 'politicization' of the latter. However, the efficacy of these representative institutions depends on the political system in which they activate. Therefore, a comprehensive difference should be noticed between the European pressure groups and the American ones. The most significant distinction is given both by the influencing environment and the strategic pathways followed in the lobby process. This article also analyses the similarities between the two political actors, focusing on the legitimacy in the name of which the interest groups formulate and implement their lobbying strategies.