Similar Characteristics with Class Model
Class model describes the system from the standpoint of those who control the means of production. At this point power is based on the property (Marger, 2014). As the most wealthy class can control the society by taking into account the means of production, it can also become a centralized division of elites. Interest groups provide this centralization for the wealthy partners and creates the platform for control. In this case, it can also correlate with instrumentalist views. By taking into consideration the instrumentalist point of view, there can be seen the direct influence of the capitalist class on the politicians through funding their campaigns.
Underrepresentation
As campaigns take a major role for any American politician, the influence of interest groups can be undeniably large on their political interests. The presence of interest groups becomes a danger for society in the view that the less wealthy part of the community becomes underrepresented, lacking the power of interest groups. The stratification of US society is quite clear with interest groups, since they serve the capitalist interests of landowners, company shareholders only. Similarly, large interest groups like, NRA are constructed of gun sellers and manufacturers that are eager to invest into certain politicians that will represent their ideas. However, less wealthy parts of society lack such resources in aiding their designated politicians.
Inequality Reasons
In addition, there is a clear collective action problem, as larger parts of society are not able to provide the common interest groups to oppose the existing one, due to controversies in opinions and the inability to conform ideas of each participant. In a smaller pool of actors, it is easier to communicate and come up with a solution, thus small groups of wealthy individuals hold more power than a large population of less cooperation. From the class model, it shows that lobbying stands as an important tool for the elites to control the society not directly but by choosing favorable policies. Contrary, the general public does not propose their policies due to inability to cooperate.
Interest groups from the power model have both positive and negative aspects. One of the positive aspects stands for the presence of checks and balances. Although inequality happens in the political arena, there is controlling power for both elites and politicians. As politicians do not always fall under the rule of elites, similarly elites are also controlled by politicians. The checks and balances prevent the domination of only one group that would lead to tyranny. In addition, not all the policies in the political discourse are harmful. Policies can be directed for both minorities and majorities in the interests of all that were proposed by interest groups.
Still, interest groups are viewed in a more negative way by the public due to several reasons. Firstly, interest groups ignore the presence of inequality, while claiming to support all classes in society. Social duties can be also ignored due to the fact that some politicians might prioritize capitalist interests of the group. It can also lead to the distortion from the generally popular policies, as the NRA did to gun policies. These policies are usually harmful for the society, but beneficial for elites and can be omitted from the debates due to the lack of the opposing interest group. The negative side of interest groups in the rising inequality overwhelms the positive aspect, but it still stands as the issue within rising risks of larger and more powerful interest groups that can compete with larger political entities.
Social Roles, Position and Status
There is a strong necessity in observing the positions and roles from the standpoint of interest groups. Although inequality is systematic feature of American politics, it still has one important notion – to be active. The political participation is key element of the American system as the elites rule cannot be further without it. The power model still requires the system to have various social roles to have sustain it, as there should be part of the population that is aware of the political environment and the leaders who are actively engaging with the ruling elite. Through these means, it is possible to review the share of isolates, marginals and other similar groups with active political engagement and participation.
Social Class and Political Participation
As noted by Marger (2014), there is an entire spectrum of interconnection between political participation and social class. This stands as the fundamental theory for the interest groups case that are also interconnected with both the political participation and social class. Social class is the approach that explains the means through which elites can take the rule of the state, causing inequality and promoting personal interests. In addition, political participation theory shows the necessity of the public interaction for the elite to have control of power. It also assumes that elite desires do not always contradict the public opinion, as well as agrees on basic necessities.
Power Without Participation
Power without participation is another important theoretical approach for interest groups. As noted by Marger (2014), it is important not who, but rather which topic will be discussed upon the session of political discourse. In this sense, the interest group becomes a tool of influencing the topic of discussion in the political arena. It forces politicians to pay attention to capitalistic ideas first hand, while missing some other important matters in the legislative procedures. In addition, it calls the topic for revision, while deciding on what topic should be brought for the Congress. As dominant economic groups and governments are standing in cooperation, they are eager to impact the structure of political action.
Summary
Interest groups are powerful means of power for elite groups to control policymaking and all other legislative functions. It uses its financial resources and abilities to control the current flow of political discourse and force politicians to take the capitalist interests. However, it is still controversial to claim the interest groups to be fully damaging for the inequality question, since there can be opportunities within the interest group that does not usually acknowledge the basic needs. Still, interest groups can be reviewed as a tool and the political function from the perspective of social class and political participation.
References
Marger, M. (2014). Social inequality: Patterns and processes (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill.