Book Project

An Interest in Democracy
How Interest Groups Educate and Engage Members and Strengthen Democracy in the Process

One of the most consistent findings in political science research relates to involvement and polarization. As people get more involved in politics, they are likely to have higher levels of polarization. In this work, I explore how interest groups turn this expectation on its head. Through civic education, opportunities for interaction with government mediated by professionals, and through encouraging group members to interact with fellow group members and elected officials regardless of party affiliation, interest groups encourage higher levels of political efficacy, more trust in government, and lower levels of affective polarization. I use survey research, novel datasets, and interviews with interest group leaders and members to find that groups that have nonpartisan policy strategies defy expectations set by decades of political science research. I also leverage my decades of work with nonpartisan interest groups to provide actionable advice for interest group practitioners about how adopting these strategies not only helps groups achieve their policy goals, but strengthens democracy in the process.

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Check back soon for an overview and summary of chapters.