POLI 100E, Interest Group Politics: Topic 1, Why are Interest Groups Important?

Drawing the Line Between an Interest Group and a Political Party:
Idealistic Interest Groups

1. Shared Concern: Nonmaterial Beliefs or Values;
   e.g., abortion, gay rights, racial equality, etc.
   
   
2. Idealistic Issues are Usually of the form that the Political
   Preferences with Regard to the are Intensely Held.
   
   
3. Idealistic Issues Tend to Be Zero Sum.
   If my Preference that "an abortion be freely available to
   any Woman who desires one" is made the social preference,
   that is, law, then it Outlaws the Preference of many other
   People that no abortions be permitted.