Organizing Interests in Western Europe Pluralism, Corporatism, and the Transformation of Politics

The chapters in this volume reconsider fundamental premises about state and society in advanced capitalist countries. That social scientists in different disciplines of varying methodological and political persuasions should have found it useful to collaborate in such an undertaking is testimony to the profound social, economic and political shocks experienced by all advanced capitalist nations since to late 1960s. The energy crisis, the end of rapid economic growth, inflation, high unemployment and rising social conflict challenge conventional conceptions about the functioning of industrial societies and their future course. Social science theories have been unable to illuminate these realities.

Preface; Introduction Suzanne Berger; Part I. The determinants of interest group formation: 1. 'Fictitious bonds … of wealth and law' Charles S. Maier; 2. Class formation, interest articulation and public policy Jurgen Kocka; 3. Regime and interest representation Suzanne Berger; 4. Local corporatism Gudmund Hernes and Arne Selvik; Part II. The functioning of interest groups; 5. The attribution of public status to interest groups Claus Offe; 6. German interest group alliances in war and inflation, 1914–1923 Gerald D. Feldman; 7. Corporatism and official hegemony John T. S. Keeler; 8. The internal politics of trade unions Charles F. Sabel; Part III. State, society and representation: the changing relationship; 9. Interests and parties in pluralism Alessandro Pizzorno; 10. Interest intermediation and regime governability in contemporary Western Europe and North America Philippe C. Schmitter; 11. May 1968 and the Hot Autumn of 1969 Michele Salvati; 12. A century of politics and interests in Spain Juan J. Linz; Index.

The chapters in this volume reconsider fundamental premises about state and society in advanced capitalist countries. The energy crisis, the end of rapid economic growth, inflation, high unemployment and rising social conflict challenge conventional conceptions about the functioning of industrial societies and their future course.