The+state+and+economic+interest+groups

=The state as political actor=
 * Note different usage of word 'state'
 * The European and political-theoretic usage is not widely used in US
 * Note the differing nature of the civil service in Europe and US
 * The state's interests and the interests of the state
 * Marxist debates over the state
 * Is the state merely an arena in which inputs are converted to outputs? Inputs could be demands by various groups, outputs are public policies
 * Does the state have autonomy with its own interests and independent actions? Can it act for the good of the whole nation (thereby rising above the push and pull of 'special interests'?
 * Or is it the executive committee of the Bourgeoisie?

=Economic interest groups=
 * In the broadest sense, capital, labor, farmers, state (latter not usually included)
 * But there are many cross-cutting economic interests (position vis a vis trade; management vs. shareholders, small business vs. big, etc)
 * Contrast US and European views of role of special interests, of faction
 * Generally (with exceptions) interests are more highly organized and frequently also more centralized in European states
 * Many have 'public' as well as 'private' role (but so too in the US?)
 * Labor associations (trade unions)
 * Business associations

=Pluralism and corporatism=
 * Pluralist ideal is weak state with multiple competing interest groups, little state autonomy
 * Countervailing power of unions, others, balance power of capital
 * Little formal, constitutional incorporation of interest groups into state
 * Interest groups are private associations, voluntarist, less centralized
 * Corporatism formalizes interest group relations with state, for example through tripartite bargaining (capital, labor, state)

=The theory of corporatism= =The future of corporatism=