INTEREST ARTICULATION
Interest articulation is defined as the way in which citizens and social groups express their needs and demands to the government. Forms of expression that fall under interest articulation include voting during elections, joining protests, participating in interest groups, directly contacting with a government official, lobbying and etc.
Interest Groups:
There are generally four categories of interest groups in Germany that have had the most considerable influence in history. These include: labor unions, business groups, churches, and agriculture lobbying organizations. The labor union sector is centralized in 3 major associations: the German Federation of Trade Unions (DGB), the German Union of Salaried Workers (DAG), and the German Federation of Civil Servants (DBB). However, in the recent past, new interest groups such as citizens' initiatives, women's organizations, and nature conservation groups have been gaining attention. Regardless of the numerous interest groups, political parties should be considered as the most influential category of interest group in Germany.
Access:
Instead of lobbying efforts, interest groups in Germany try to influence the government, or specifically policies within the Bundestag by building public pressure; but to build up public pressure, one most first influence the populace, and this is achieved through the effective use of media, e.g. broadcasting protests of a recently risen controversial issue. Most often times, threatening to withdraw support for a political party during election time or in times of financial depression is the most successful in gaining access and having an interest group's voice heard. In addition, membership and financial support seem to be the top strategies that are endorsed in order to ensure access to political parties in the long run. Using the Christian Democratic party as an example: this major political party in Germany is intertwined with many organizations. Church groups, agrarian associations and others all exert their influence in the party by remaining in close contact.
While countless interest groups exist in Germany, only large associations have the ability to directly lobby and gain access to political parties, the Bundesrat, and the overall government in general. For example, when the Christian Democratic party is in charge, agrarian and church interests are more favored than other interest groups. On the contrary, when the Social Democrat Party is in power, union interests are prioritized over others. Interestingly, groups that might be affected by a potentially drafted bill will be invited to exchange views and opinions in order for the government or the Bundesrat to have a better understanding of the outcomes.
Most interest groups recognize the need to access certain officials in power in the Bundesrat or in key committees who can influence the voting process in the parliament; therefore many times, the Bundesrat itself will be stacked with members of different special interest groups in order to gain access to the German government.
Civil Society and the Role it Plays in the Country:
Civil society is defined as a society in which people are involved in social and political interactions free of state control or regulation. Germany as a country with one of the highest voter turnout rates during election periods shows active participation in social and political interactions. To expand further, take nature conservation groups as an example. People who are highly aware of the environmental problems will bond together to reach a better understanding of the issue at hand and discuss feasible solutions to resolve a matter of their concern. As Germany runs under a pluralist interest group system, multiple groups that represent a single societal interest (nature conservation in this case) will foster a greater sense of community among people of shared interests across multiple interest groups. The opportunity for people to participate in social and political interactions free of state control or regulation generates a greater understanding of government procedures and further reinforces the idea of interest articulation like a positive feedback loop, seeing that the freedom for people to discuss and interact with each other on matters related to politics and it being received motivates people to be more involved in this process.
Interest Groups:
There are generally four categories of interest groups in Germany that have had the most considerable influence in history. These include: labor unions, business groups, churches, and agriculture lobbying organizations. The labor union sector is centralized in 3 major associations: the German Federation of Trade Unions (DGB), the German Union of Salaried Workers (DAG), and the German Federation of Civil Servants (DBB). However, in the recent past, new interest groups such as citizens' initiatives, women's organizations, and nature conservation groups have been gaining attention. Regardless of the numerous interest groups, political parties should be considered as the most influential category of interest group in Germany.
Access:
Instead of lobbying efforts, interest groups in Germany try to influence the government, or specifically policies within the Bundestag by building public pressure; but to build up public pressure, one most first influence the populace, and this is achieved through the effective use of media, e.g. broadcasting protests of a recently risen controversial issue. Most often times, threatening to withdraw support for a political party during election time or in times of financial depression is the most successful in gaining access and having an interest group's voice heard. In addition, membership and financial support seem to be the top strategies that are endorsed in order to ensure access to political parties in the long run. Using the Christian Democratic party as an example: this major political party in Germany is intertwined with many organizations. Church groups, agrarian associations and others all exert their influence in the party by remaining in close contact.
While countless interest groups exist in Germany, only large associations have the ability to directly lobby and gain access to political parties, the Bundesrat, and the overall government in general. For example, when the Christian Democratic party is in charge, agrarian and church interests are more favored than other interest groups. On the contrary, when the Social Democrat Party is in power, union interests are prioritized over others. Interestingly, groups that might be affected by a potentially drafted bill will be invited to exchange views and opinions in order for the government or the Bundesrat to have a better understanding of the outcomes.
Most interest groups recognize the need to access certain officials in power in the Bundesrat or in key committees who can influence the voting process in the parliament; therefore many times, the Bundesrat itself will be stacked with members of different special interest groups in order to gain access to the German government.
Civil Society and the Role it Plays in the Country:
Civil society is defined as a society in which people are involved in social and political interactions free of state control or regulation. Germany as a country with one of the highest voter turnout rates during election periods shows active participation in social and political interactions. To expand further, take nature conservation groups as an example. People who are highly aware of the environmental problems will bond together to reach a better understanding of the issue at hand and discuss feasible solutions to resolve a matter of their concern. As Germany runs under a pluralist interest group system, multiple groups that represent a single societal interest (nature conservation in this case) will foster a greater sense of community among people of shared interests across multiple interest groups. The opportunity for people to participate in social and political interactions free of state control or regulation generates a greater understanding of government procedures and further reinforces the idea of interest articulation like a positive feedback loop, seeing that the freedom for people to discuss and interact with each other on matters related to politics and it being received motivates people to be more involved in this process.