The political power of business : structure and information in public policymaking
Citation:
Patrick Bernhagen, 'The political power of business : structure and information in public policymaking', [thesis], Trinity College (Dublin, Ireland). Department of Political Science, 2005, pp 298Download Item:
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Abstract:
In this study, I analyse the conditions that lead to the political power position of business in democratic capitalist systems. Overcoming traditional dichotomies of structural economic determinants versus corporate political action, I investigate how in their political strategies business lobbyists employ privately held information about the costs and effects of public policy in the real world. I argue that business' privileged access to policy-relevant information is an important power resource alongside more commonly researched resources such as money and organisation, membership in elite networks, or the prerogative over allocation and investment. In a review of the main theoretical strands of scholarly work on business and politics: (neo-) pluralist group theory, network approaches, theories of ideological domination, and structural power theories - I evaluate the main contributions that these approaches make to explaining the sources and limits of business political power.
Author: Bernhagen, Patrick
Advisor:
Hyland, EddieQualification name:
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)Publisher:
Trinity College (Dublin, Ireland). Department of Political ScienceNote:
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