The Influence of Political Actors

Abstract

Many people, or 'political actors', interact with government and business, making important contributions to the econon1y. This chapter examines two major avenues for people to participate in politics - political parties and interest groups - which aim to influence government business relations in different ways. First, it begins by discussing the major functions of political parties. After describing how political parties operate in Australia, it brieAy examines the US, Japan and Sweden. The chapter argues that despite holding very different support bases, objectives and ideologies, political parties are necessary not only because they contribute to the operation of politics, but because they affect the role and sway of business. Second, this chapter examines several different types of interest groups, showing that some are more influential than others. Success depends on how powerful they are and how they operate within particular political systems of any given country. Some groups have fewer resources at their disposal than others, so it can be difficult to get their interests represented. The chapter also describes some of the strategies that business-oriented interest groups use to influence governments.