Interest groups, international organizations, and global problem-solving capacity

The role of interest groups in global governance is the subject of an upcoming international workshop at Stockholm University on June 11-12.

Interest groups, international organizations, and global problem-solving capacity brings together experts and practitioners from different parts of the world to examine the conditions under which interest groups, including business associations, non-governmental organizations, and civil society groups, can influence global governance.

The workshop is organized by Lisa Dellmuth, Associate Professor of International Relations, Stockholm University, and Elizabeth Bloodgood, Associate Professor of Political Science, Concordia University in partnership with the Department of Economic History and International Relations, and Department of Political Science at Stockholm University, the Department of Political Science at Concordia University in Montreal, and the Stockholm Centre for Civil Society Studies at the Stockholm School of Economics. The workshop is generously funded by The Swedish Foundation for Humanities and Social Sciences (Riksbankens Jubileumsfond) (Dnr F17-1189:1).

Its aim is to foster the exchange ideas and develop a better understanding of how interest groups emerge and seek influence over policymaking and implementation in international organizations such as the United Nations, and European Union.

This workshop unites scholars and practitioners that think that we need to better understand interest groups’ effects in global governance. Specialized interests contribute to the policymaking and the provision of collective goods by international organizations such as the European Union and United Nations. The diversity of the content and the representativeness of the interest groups involved have important implications for the problem-solving capacity of international organizations. The workshop contributes with new knowledge on the effects of interest groups in global governance, and bring scholars and practitioners into dialogue.

In four panel discussions, participants will address how different populations of interest groups emerge on the world stage; how they shape global policymaking; how they affect the implementation of global policy; and compare non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with interest groups.

A panel debate, International non-governmental organizations, representation, and effectiveness in global governance, takes place on Monday, June 11, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., in the Geovetenskapens hus, U29, Stockholm University. The panel debate will be live-streamed (https://www.su.se/play/).