Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A matter of information, discussion and consequences? Exploring the accountability practices of interest groups in the EU

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Interest Groups & Advocacy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Interest groups are perceived as vehicles that can enhance the legitimacy of public institutions at the national and supranational level. However, the potential of these organizations to enhance democratic representation is often questioned and has rarely been systematically analysed. In this article, we examine the under-researched area of interest group accountability, a key component for groups to realize their democratic potential. To do this, we take an organization-centric and top-down perspective and develop a tailored analytical framework including three key dimensions—information, discussion and consequences. Drawing on data from a large-scale survey of interest groups active at the EU level, we find considerable variation in the extent to which groups demonstrate practices related to these three accountability dimensions. Furthermore, while receiving funding from EU institutions does not have any significant effect on interest group accountability, we find that organizations representing businesses interests more frequently develop accountability practices related to the dimensions of discussion and consequences, whereas citizen groups are more focused on the information dimension.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. It is also important to note that leaders can pick up cues and signals from members through non-institutionalized avenues as well—e.g. surveys, public opinion research, social media, etc.

  2. We also acknowledge that the ‘exit’ option might be an important post hoc consequence for groups that do not involve members in decision-making processes. This is important to many groups because they need a stable membership for organizational maintenance and survival. Yet, for the purpose of this article we focus on the more formal procedures that members have at their disposal to control the internal affairs of the group.

  3. EUROPA—Transparency Register, available at: http://ec.europa.eu/transparencyregister, accessed 16 October 2014.

  4. The groups excluded from the sample are: ‘Local, regional and municipal authorities (at sub-national level)’; ‘Organizations representing churches and religious communities’; ‘other public or mixed entities, etc.’; ‘Other similar organizations’; and ‘Trade unions’. Together, all these categories only represent 9.95% of the sample, and none of these categories gather more than 14 organizations.

  5. The survey contained a filter, asking the respondents whether their organization was membership based and if so, what kind of members their organization has.

  6. Importantly, the three variables used to assess the accountability components (Table 2) are independent and the highest correlation is found between the two variables related to dis cussion and consequences. Yet, this correlation is below .4; hence, we can safely assume that the two variables are substantively different. To control for missing cases, the same analyses have been conducted with the 174 observations for which we have complete data. Importantly, the same values hold at a very simil ar level. In addition, multiple imputation estimates (n = 410) lead to the same results and significant levels, with only three exceptions: age is not negatively related to information, y et it becomes positively and significantly related to the consequences dimension; EU funding is negatively related to the discussion dimensions, yet the coefficient is very low (−.00 6; p value = .092); and access is not significant anymore for the consequences dimension (p value = .177).

References

  • Albareda, A. 2018. Connecting society and policymakers? Conceptualizing and measuring the capacity of civil society organizations to act as transmission belts. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations 29(6): 1216–1232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Albareda, A. 2020. Prioritizing professionals? How the democratic and professionalized nature of interest groups shapes their degree of access to EU officials. European Political Science Review 12(4): 485–501.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ashworth, R. 2000. Party manifestos and local accountability: A content analysis of local election pledges in Wales. Local Government Studies 26(3): 11–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Behn, R.D. 2001. Rethinking democratic accountability. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berkhout, J. 2013. Why interest organizations do what they do: Assessing the explanatory potential of “exchange” approaches. Interest Groups & Advocacy 2(2): 227–250.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berkhout, J., M. Hanegraaff, and C. Braun. 2017. Making inference across mobilisation and influence research: Comparing top-down and bottom-up mapping of interest systems. Political Studies 66(1): 43–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berkhout, J., M. Hanegraaff, and W. A. Maloney. 2019. ‘Looking for “Voice” in business and citizen groups: Who’s being heard?’ Paper presented at the ECPR Joint Sessions: Workshop 'The Evolution of Political Organisations: Organisational Form, Function and Modes of Change', Mons.

  • Bernhagen, P., J. Beyers, C. Braun, D. Fink-Hafner, F. Heylen, W. Maloney, et al. 2016. INTEREURO survey: Activities and strategies of European Interest groups: A snapshot from the INTEREURO survey. Stuttgart: INTEREURO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berry, J.M., K.E. Portney, and K. Thomson. 1993. The rebirth of urban democracy. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beyers, J., R. Eising, and W.A. Maloney. 2008. Researching interest group politics in Europe and elsewhere: Much we study, little we know? West European Politics 31(6): 1103–1128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beyers, J., et al. 2014. The INTEREURO project: Logic and structure. Interest Groups & Advocacy 3(2): 126–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blee, K.M. 2012. Democracy in the making. How activist groups form. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Bovens, M. 2007. Analysing and assessing accountability: A Conceptual framework. European Law Journal 13(4): 447–468.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bovens, M. 2010. Two concepts of accountability: Accountability as a virtue and as a mechanism. West European Politics 33(5): 946–967.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bovens, M., T. Schillemans, and P.T. Hart. 2008. Does public accountability work? An assessment tool. Public Administration 86(1): 225–242.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brandsma, G.J., and T. Schillemans. 2013. The accountability cube: Measuring accountability. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory 23(4): 953–975.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, L.D. 2008. Creating credibility: Legitimacy and accountability for transnational civil society. Sterling, VA: Kumarian Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, L.D., and Jagadananda. 2007. ‘Civil society legitimacy and accountability: Issues and challenges’. The Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations and The John F. Kennedy School of Government Harvard University (January) Working Paper No. 32.

  • Busuioc, E.M., and M. Lodge. 2016. The reputational basis of public accountability. Governance 29(2): 247–263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carman, J.G. 2009. Nonprofits, funders, and evaluation: Accountability in action. American Review of Public Administration 39(4): 374–390.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Bruycker, I., J. Berkhout, and M. Hanegraaff. 2019. The paradox of collective action: Linking interest aggregation and interest articulation in EU legislative lobbying. Governance 32(2): 295–312.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Defacqz, S. 2018. The legitimacy of European networks: Perspectives from Belgian civil society organisations. Journal of Contemporary European Research 14(2): 123–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dür, A., and G. Mateo. 2013. Gaining access or going public? Interest group strategies in five European countries. European Journal of Political Research 52(5): 660–686.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • European Commission. 2001. European Governance: A white paper. Brussels: European Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Commission. 2002. Communication from the commission: Towards a reinforced culture of consultation and dialogue—General principles and minimum standards for consultation of interested parties by the commission. Brussels: European Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Commission. 2003. Report from the Commission on European Governance. Luxembourg: European Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Economic and Social Committee. 2006. Opinion of European Economic and Social Committee on the representativeness of European civil society organisations in civic dialogue. Brussels: European Economic and Social Committee.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fraussen, B., and D.R. Halpin. 2018. How do interest groups legitimate their policy advocacy? Reconsidering linkage and internal democracy in times of digital disruption. Public Administration 96(1): 23–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greenwood, J. 2007. Organized civil society and democratic legitimacy in the European Union. British Journal of Political Science 37(02): 333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grömping, M., and D.R. Halpin. 2019. Does group engagement with members constitute a “beneficial inefficiency”? Governance 32(3): 511–529.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halpin, D.R. 2006. The participatory and democratic potential and practice of interest groups: Between solidarity and representation. Public Administration 84(4): 919–940.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halpin, D.R. 2010. Groups, democracy and representation: Between promise and practice. Manchester: Manchester University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Hanegraaff, M., J. Beyers, and I. De Bruycker. 2016. Balancing inside and outside lobbying: The political strategies of lobbyists at global diplomatic conferences. European Journal of Political Research 55(3): 568–588.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heylen, F., E. Willems, and J. Beyers. 2020. Do professionals take over? Professionalisation and membership influence in civil society organisations. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations 31: 1–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hollman, M. 2018. Interest group organisation in the European Union: How internal organisational structures shape interest group agency. London: Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Jordan, G., and W.A. Maloney. 1998. Manipulating membership: Supply-side influences on group size. British Journal of Political Science 28(2): 389–409.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keating, V.C., and E. Thrandardottir. 2017. NGOs, trust, and the accountability agenda. The British Journal of Politics and International Relations 19(1): 134–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klüver, H., and S. Saurugger. 2013. Opening the black box: The professionalization of interest groups in the European Union. Interest Groups & Advocacy 2(2): 185–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kohler-Koch, B. 2010. Civil society and EU democracy: “Astroturf” representation? Journal of European Public Policy 17(1): 100–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kohler-Koch, B., and V. Buth. 2013. The balancing act of European Civil Society—Between professionalism and grassroots. In The demystification of participatory governance, ed. B. Kohler-Koch and C. Quittkat. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

  • Koop, C. 2014. Theorizing and explaining voluntary accountability. Public Administration 92(3): 565–581.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kröger, S. 2018. How limited representativeness weakens throughput legitimacy in the EU: The example of interest groups. Public Administration 97: 1–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowery, D., and V. Gray. 2004. A neopluralist perspective on research on organized interests. Political Research Quarterly 57(1): 164–175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mahoney, C., and M.J. Beckstrand. 2011. Following the Money: European Union Funding of Civil Society Organizations. JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies 49(6): 1339–1361.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maloney, W.A. 2015. Organizational populations: professionalization, maintenance and democracy delivery. In The organizational ecology of interest communities: Assessment and agenda, ed. D. Lowery, D.R. Halpin, and V. Gray, 99–116. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manin, B. 2002. The principles of representative government. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mansbridge, J. 2003. Rethinking representation. American Political Science Review 97(4): 515–528.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mintzberg, H. 1983. Power in and around organizations. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Dwyer, B., and R. Boomsma. 2015. The co-construction of NGO accountability aligning imposed and felt accountability in NGO-funder accountability relationships. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal 28(1): 36–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pérez-Solórzano Borragán, N., and S. Smismans. 2012. Representativeness: A tool to structure interest intermediation in the European Union? JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies 50(3): 403–421.

    Google Scholar 

  • Persson, T., and K. Edholm. 2018. Assessing the effects of European Union Funding of Civil Society Organizations: Money for nothing? JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies 56(3): 559–575.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pierson, P. 2004. Politics in time: History, institutions and social analysis. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Sanchez-Salgado, R. 2011. EU structuring effects on civic organizations: Learning from experience, learning from comparison. In IPSA RC32 conference in Dubrovnik, 10–12 June.

  • Saurugger, S. 2012. The professionalization of the EU’s civil society: A conceptual framework. In New ‘participatory’ dimensions in civil society: Professionalization and individualized collective action, ed. J.W. Van Deth and W.A. Maloney, 69–83. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saward, M. 2014. Shape-shifting representation. American Political Science Review 108(4): 723–736.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmitter, P.C., and W. Streeck. 1999. The organization of business interest: Studying the associative action of business in advanced industrial societies, MPIfG Discussion Paper 99/1. Cologne: Max-Planck-Institut fur Gesellschaftsforschung.

  • Shamsul Haque, M. 2020. A critique of the role of NGOs as partners in governance. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Administration 42(1): 17–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stamm, J. 2014. OECKL. Directory of Public Affairs—Europe and International Alliances 2014/2015. In J. Stamm (Ed.) (19th ed.). Wien: Festland Verlag.

  • Tranvik, T., and P. Selle. 2005. State and citizens in Norway: Organisational society and state—Municipal relations. West European Politics 28(4): 852–871.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trenz, H.-J. 2009. European civil society: Between participation, representation and discourse. Policy and Society 28(1): 35–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Deth, J.W., and W.A. Maloney. 2012. New participatory dimensions in civil society: Professionalization and individualized collective action. London: Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Walker, J.L. 1983. The origins and maintenance of interest groups in America. The American Political Science Review 77(2): 390–406.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, X. 2002. Assessing administrative accountability: Results from a national survey. American Review of Public Administration 32(3): 350–370.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Warleigh, A. 2001. “Europeanizing” Civil Society: NGOs as agents of political socialization. JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies 39(4): 619–639.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warleigh, A. 2003. Democracy and the European Union. London: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, J.Q. 1995. Political organizations. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

A very early version of this article was presented at the ECPR General Conference in Oslo, 6–9 September 2017. We would like to thank the panel participants, as well as the anonymous reviewers, for their helpful comments and suggestions, which have improved the article considerably. The research presented in this article has been supported by the European Science Foundation (10-ECRP-008) (INTEREURO Project) and the Dutch Research Council (Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO)), grant no. 452–14-012 (Vidi scheme).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Public Administration, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Bert Fraussen & Caelesta Braun

  2. Department of Public Administration and Sociology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Adrià Albareda

  3. School of Geography, Politics and Sociology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    William Maloney

Authors
  1. Bert Fraussen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Adrià Albareda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Caelesta Braun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. William Maloney
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bert Fraussen.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Appendix

Appendix

See Fig. 1 and Tables 4, 5, 6 and 7.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Distribution of accountability dimensions

Full size image
Table 4 Information construct
Full size table
Table 5 Discussion construct
Full size table
Table 6 Consequences construct
Full size table
Table 7 Descriptive statistics and correlation matrix of dependent and explanatory factors
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fraussen, B., Albareda, A., Braun, C. et al. A matter of information, discussion and consequences? Exploring the accountability practices of interest groups in the EU. Int Groups Adv 10, 114–136 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41309-021-00116-1

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41309-021-00116-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation