Close cousins or false friends? Studying interest groups and INGOs

Abstract

The literatures on INGOs and on interest groups have generally worked in parallel, but rarely overlapped. This is unfortunate, as many insights from these literatures are highly applicable to one another. Just as sociologists studying social movement organisations and political scientists studying interest groups have come to appreciate, there is value in cooperation to advance understanding. Yet there are costs in so doing. This essay will reflect on the contents of this special issue on global governance and in so doing will review the points of overlap that are prime candidates for cooperation, while noting areas where work might be more difficult.