Interest groups in the European community: Newly emerging dynamics and forms

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Case studies of EC/interest group relationships can reveal a range of organisational formats and reciprocal influences. Yet in recent literature, there has been a tendency to characterise such relationships as a whole, often involving application of the ‘pluralist’ label. Neither neo‐pluralism nor neo‐corporatism are however system‐level theories, and both by nature defy the drawing of generalisations beyond domains to which these images can be applied. Application of the ‘pluralist’ label appears to originate from a prevailing view of Euro‐interest associations as weak ‘federations of national federations’, often unable to agree and act upon meaningful common positions. Evidence from the pharmaceutical industry suggests that such a blanket generalisation cannot be sustained, not least because of the commonality of regulatory experiences across member states, and prior experience of the industry in transnational political action. These have been reproduced at the EC level to the point of a Euro‐private interest government. There are however other forms of interest representation besides the super federation, and a cursory examination of one area ‐ biotechnology ‐ reveals the multiplicity of these. Of interest is that here it is the Euro organisations themselves rather than an aggregation of national concerns which have been of prime importance in engaging the European level, a feature of the development of biotechnology at a time of the enhanced competence of the EC in the shape of the Single European Act and of attempts at further integration. Only one of the many Euro aggregations in biotechnology ‐ a direct firm membership forum ‐ has to date proved to be an effective interest outlet. Premature generalisations of the type that EC/interest group relations are to be characterised as either ‘pluralist’ or ‘corporatist’ in character seem to miss cases yet to be investigated; influences which are emerging in a time of the enhanced competence of the EC; and those dynamics yet to emerge. The case study methodology, involving careful empirical investigation on a domain basis, is highlighted as the most appropriate vehicle through which to investigate the complex and reciprocal influences exerted between interest groups and economic internationalisation.