Groups, Representation and Democracy: Between Promise and Practice
Darren R. Halpin
Abstract
Whether called pressure groups, NGOs, social movement organisations or organised civil society, the value of ‘groups’ to the policy process, to economic growth, to governance, to political representation and to democracy has always been contested. However, there seems to be a contemporary resurgence in this debate, largely centred on their democratising potential: can groups effectively link citizens to political institutions and policy processes? Are groups an antidote to emerging democratic deficits? Or do they themselves face challenges in demonstrating their legitimacy and representativene ... More
Keywords: pressure groups, NGOs, social movement organisations, organised civil society, policy process, economic growth, governance, political representation, democracy, constituencies
Bibliographic Information
| Print publication date: 2010 | Print ISBN-13: 9780719076527 |
| Published to Manchester Scholarship Online: July 2012 | DOI:10.7228/manchester/9780719076527.001.0001 |
