Differences Of Political Parties And Interest Groups In Democracy

In a democracy, political parties and interest groups play important roles in government. Political parties and Interest groups have similarities and differences. Their aims, interests, strategies and goals are what set them apart. Interest groups once called Pressure groups, are a group of people that are held together through a common single interest. They come together in order to promote their interest and influence the government. Their interests usually revolve around education, safety, agriculture, and the economy. Groups of such kind are mentioned in the Constitution, however, they do tend to be chaotic. Interest groups are not meant to last they are only temporary. Once their main interest is achieved the group departs. When interest …show more content…
These parties are also a part of elections, however, they are not mentioned in the constitution. They are made up of a group of people who have common goals, principles, and are seeking to make a political statement in order to influence decision making. They nominate candidates for elected positions. These parties help focus on certain issues and explain them while also raising awareness. Political parties are meant to bridge the gap that is present among the people and the government. These parties are able to lead the policies of the government elected by the people. They help integrate people in society and political issues. They also function in mobilizing people, especially voters.
In addition, these two groups share similarities, with both being voluntarily organized groups of people, that are involved in the process of politics. They each have a significant role in democratic societies. They work towards specific goals in the government and both encourage politicians and raise money to accomplish those goals. They are involved in interest expression, political socialization, political communication and leadership requirement. They both have key roles in the social and political life of the …show more content…
They differ in size. Political Parties are much larger compared to Interest groups that are smaller organizations. A political party is organized by a group of people with a similar political ideology or agreement over a group of related political ideas. While in an interest group specific interest is usually the basis of the formation. It is organized by the people for the promotion of common interests, through mutual cooperation and joint efforts. Political parties want to attain power over governmental policy by winning elections for political office. They help win elections through advertising and fundraising. They have different views on a wide variety of issues. An interest group's goal is to promote a position on a single specific issue such as gun control. Interest groups do not necessarily have their members run for office and they vote in an unbiased way, supporting candidates who promote their point of view. Political parties are more flexible than interest groups are able to be. For example, in political parties the members generally have similar views but they don’t agree on every issue. Because interest groups are addressing a single issue, they cannot change their position without changing what they stand for. As mentioned interest groups also use lobbying, which is an attempt to influence a politician's decision, to advance their position. Some