An interest group (also called pressure group or Advocacy group) is a group whose members have the same concerns about a political issue, and try to influence the public policy that impact those concerns. In other words, it is an organized group of concerned citizens who advocate policy change. Interest groups often engaging in lobbying to advance their cause. Interest groups can be insider pressure groups or outsider pressure groups.
The lobbyists of small radical groups which attempt to advance their own interests at expense of common good and public welfare camouflage themselves as so called "experts."[1] For example, Dr. Hubert Van Gijseghem, psychologist and retired professor of the University of Montreal and 'expert' on the issue of sexual offenses against children, claimed, during the parliamentary session in Canada, that “True pedophiles have an exclusive preference for children, which is the same as having a sexual orientation. You cannot change this person’s sexual orientation.” One columnist in the Toronto Sun, Brian Lilley, expressed shock at Van Gijseghem’s testimony and argued that “it’s time to take our country back by ignoring the ‘experts.’”[2]
Categories: [Political Terms] [United States Government]