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Interest Groups' Lobbying Tactics in Japan and in the U.S.: The Influence of Political Structures and Conflict on Tactical Choices
Author(s) -
Ishio Yoshito
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
southeastern political review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1747-1346
pISSN - 0730-2177
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-1346.1999.tb00534.x
Subject(s) - interest group , politics , appeal , special interest group , political science , national interest , conflict of interest , public interest , public relations , political economy , economics , law
This paper classifies lobbying tactics into inside and outside tactics. Inside tactics are lobbying methods which require interest group lobbyists to make direct contact with policy makers. Outside tactics are lobbying methods with which interest groups appeal to their group members, to constituencies in particular districts or states, and/or to the general public. By comparing Japanese and U. S. interest groups in the labor policy domains in the 1980s, this paper examines how political structures and conflict level influence interest groups' lobbying tactical choices. The study finds that on average, a majority of Japanese interest groups use only inside tactics, while a majority of U. S. interest groups employ both inside and outside tactics. The study also finds for both Japan and the U.S. that the greater the level of conflict associated with a policy event, the more likely interest groups are to use both inside and outside tactics, and the less likely they are to use only inside tactics.