Public Interest Groups and Public Policy: The Case of the Consumers' Association of Canada

In: Canadian journal of political science: CJPS = Revue canadienne de science politique : RCSP, Band 12, Heft 1, S. 137-155

Abstract

All public interest groups must face problems of financial dependency, doubtful legitimacy, & difficulties deciding on priorities. Their fundamental source of legitimacy & advantage is the claim that they unselfishly represent the general public. Public interest groups may be arranged in a continuum: some have a variety of goals & varied membership, others have clearly defined goals & an active membership. Such groups may adopt one of the following strategies: (1) accommodation, ie, collaboration with the government & private enterprise, (2) legal advocacy, & (3) popular advocacy, ie, mobilization of the concerned sectors of the population. The Canadian Consumers' Association is an example of a public interest group which has largely failed to influence policy either by accommodation or legal advocacy. Hence, it is being driven toward popular advocacy strategies. S. Karganovic.