An Analysis of The Implication of The Activities of Interest Groups In Policy Formulation

Analyze how four interest group politics (a) business, (b) environmentalism, (c) deep ecologist, and (d) radical environmentalism, influence environmental policy-making process in the United States.

Interest Group

Politics is an unspoken belief in United States and is expected by “most” public officials, and those aspiring to become community administrators. The expectations are that “organized interests affected by public policy should have an important role in being influential”. Usually, interest groups involve organized individuals or businesses attempting to “sway” regulations more in their favor. Availability of environmental “support groups” is critical in the development of public policies and laws that work to conserve the environment, rallying for change, and implementing new regulations.

Radical environmental groups, regardless of their tactics, believe that they are pursuing objectives that serve for the good of the community. These groups work with either governments, private businesses and even individuals to encourage environmental preservation and make modification to public procedures. Radical groups such as Greenpeace (1971-present) maneuver to expose private corporations and governments who are pillaging the earth and to protest nuclear testing, “whaling”, and oil rigs located at sea.

Deep ecologists believe humans are, “only part of the future and not necessarily the most significant part”. It is also believed that all life forms have equal rights to exist and that social, political and economic institutions should promote this idea. Followers of deep ecology are not “anti-human”, in fact, it encompasses deep curiosity of important causes of today’s environmental decline, most likely caused by human intrusion. Deep ecology requires reshaping our political organizations built on principles and ideas that reserve the ecological and social variety of natural order. This is important to sustain the survival of all life on Mother Earth.

Then there are those who advocate for change through civil disobedience and confrontational activism. When political movements are begun using radical protesting, sometimes they end with those in power bending to the will of the activists. Eventually, protestors appeal to those in power and if demands are deemed acceptable, they are approved. As each group bids for influence hoping that policymakers set policies that take full advantage of political objectives, contributions are designed to benefit their members believing other interest groups are doing the same, or that those who write policy are politically driven.

Describe how environmental interest groups create functional structures and cultures, as well develop strategies and tactics to impel environmental movement.

A few of the challenges to keeping environmentalism “healthy” is assuring that environmental issues remain a priority on the national agenda, sustaining large politically robust membership bases and keeping messages politically appropriate for a new generation of Americans. Interest groups goals are to influence public policy, although they are not concerned with controlling the government. These interest groups act together in pursuit of special interests or situations. For a political party to be successful, it must unite diverse groups of people, that have different policy philosophies. A few functions of political parties in the United States consist of recruiting and organizing.

Environmental organizations such as Greenpeace are in search of change of unequal cultural impacts of contamination in the North, as well as becoming better representatives focused on business strategies of fundraising and publicity stunts. These strategies usually lack strong elements of social justice and community participation, meaning that change has the potential to be sporadic and agonizingly slow. Continuing environmental innovation is the only way to diminish burdens on environmental assets while preserving profit growth. Nevertheless, the views on how to begin and nurture environmental revolutions differ.

The conclusion is that a harsher environmental policy can create the sense of urgency and strong incentives for environmental innovation. Determined and strict goals, at higher levels but ability to maneuver a little easier at lower levels of the firm are unsurpassed as a policy to foster environmental innovation.