Issue Networks

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Issue Networks

• From Iron Triangles to Issue Networks

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Coalition Politics

• Expand scarce resources
• Extend intelligence network more eyes and ears
• Added credibility power in numbers
• Ad hoc arrangements
• Maximize flexibility
• Dissolve shifting alliances

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Example

• Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
• www.civilrights.org
• One of the rare successful permanent coalitions
• 185 org. members
• Size can be strength, but also an obstacle

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Pragmatism

• Strange bedfellows
• Is no group to evil to work with?
• ACLU and NRA
• Moral Majority and NOW

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Sharing Resources

• Contacts
• Court costs
• Research expenses
• Voluntary contributions
• Varies by biggest stakeholders

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Issue Network

• Definition The many interests who share
  expertise and policy concerns in a given policy
  domain who frequently interact.
• 1970s breakdown of Iron Triangles, or Policy
  Subgovernments
• Advocacy Explosion generated more interests and
  competition
• HughHecloHughHecloHughHecloHughHecloHugh
• Heclo an Issue network is a shared-knowledge
  group.

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• In contrast to subgovernments, issue networks are
  very informal, fluid, and hard to define. (often
  temporary)
• Modern issue networks and groups in them
  characterized by conflict
• Inter-network rivalries
• business groups citizen groups
• Vulnerable to partisan political changes, unlike
  old subgovernments
• Nixon-Carter-Reagan
• Bush-Clinton-Bush

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More Characteristics

• Hollow Cores
• No one is in charge
• Multiple Niches
• Groups narrowly focused
• Individual niche groups may form broader issue
  network
• Experts
• Extensive knowledge crucial
• Makes you a player
• Sloppy Boundaries
• An amorphous blob
• Issue areas overlap

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