Title:      Invaluable Involvement: Purposive Interest Group
Networks in the 21st Century

Authors:    Janet Box-Steffensmeier, Dino Christenson

Entrydate:  2010-02-04 21:53:21

Keywords:   Network Analysis, Interest Groups, Amicus Curiae,
Coalition Strategy

Abstract:   We present the first comprehensive social network
analysis of purposive and coordinated interest group
relationships. We utilize a network measure based on cosigner
status to United States Supreme Court amicus curiae, or friend
of the court briefs. The illuminated structures lend insight
into the central players and overall formation of the network
over the first seven years of the 21st century. We find that the
majority of interest groups primarily partake in coalition
strategies with other groups of similar policy interest and
ideological character. This is in contrast to previous
literature that focused only on one or the other. Network
analysis provides evidence, for example, that the National
Wildlife Foundation, the National Association of Criminal
Defense Lawyers and the American Civil Liberties Union are all
particularly strong groups, but exploit different central roles.

http://polmeth.wustl.edu/retrieve.php?id=947

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