"Sweet" Victory: The U.S. Cranberry Industry and the Efficacy of Interest Groups

• In Event: Poster Session: Intergroup Dynamics and Tolerance & Representation and Electoral Systems
  In Poster Session: Poster Session: Electoral Systems and Representation

Abstract

The existing literature on interest groups extensively delves into their behavior, often highlighting influential players in highly visible issue spaces. I contend that this scholarly focus tends to neglect the ordinary, non-partisan aspect of policymaking – the typical context in which the government functions. Utilizing a novel dataset on the U.S. cranberry lobby, I demonstrate how interest groups can instigate significant changes in less-polarized, lower-attention issues. My study blends principles from aggregate (especially population ecology) and individual group behavior literatures. Despite cranberries being an unconventional case, they illustrate how organized interests can wield influence even with limited resources in a non-competitive, ideologically void space. I also emphasize the importance of considering entire issue areas, beyond specific policies and strategies, as interest group activity frequently occurs outside traditional political channels. Cranberry lobbying has achieved noteworthy successes, offering insights into interest group influence over extended periods and across various governmental institutions.

Author

• Tristan M. Hightower, Bryant University