Book Description

Pt. 1: Public opinion and interest group politics around the world: instructive insight?: Special interests and how they help shape US legislation: interesting possibilities or potential pitfalls -- Fundraising for social change in the US: interest group advocacy in contemporary US elections -- Interest groups in the German political system: advice for South Africa. Pt. 2: Public opinion and interest group politics in South Africa: comparing perspectives: Understanding the South African political psyche -- The character of the South African state: the self-understanding of the ANC as government and its impact on the public space -- The methodology of polling public opinion in South Africa: measuring the pulse of the people -- Managing public opinion during the 2009 South African elections -- The possibilities of election campaigns as sites for political advocacy: South Africa in comparative perspective -- Challenges for interest groups and their advocacy campaigns: the case of sustainable medium density housing -- An interest group at work: environmental activism and the case of acid mine drainage on Johannesburg's West Rand. Pt. 3: Championing public opinion: a future for interest groups?: Managing campaigns to influence the public policy agenda: putting theory into practice -- Advocacy and financing that shapes and shifts public opinion -- Government and access effects on the use of social networking sites by nationwide NGOs in the US, South Africa and Mexico -- The ability of social movements to affect policy change in South Africa and the United States: comparing and contrasting key elements of HIV/AIDS treatment and welfare entitlement campaigns -- Beyond appeasement: the real business agenda -- Democracy without choice? Interest groups, advocacy and political behaviour in Namibia: a warning for South Africa?