Party Receptiveness to Interest Group Diversity: Evidence From Policymaking in Six European Democracies

Legislative party groups regularly get suggestions from numerous, different interest groups trying to influence policy, but individual party groups are likely to be more receptive to suggestions from groups representing some interests than others. We examine (in)equalities in legislative parties' receptiveness to interest group diversity by asking: what factors explain how (un)equally legislative parties listen to and accept suggestions from different types of interest groups? Combining interest group survey data from six long-established European democracies with data on parties' policy area salience and goal priorities, we find support for three possible party-level explanations. Legislative parties seem more equally receptive to the suggestions they receive from different interests when their party prioritizes office over policy in cases of goal conflicts and in policy areas of high salience to the party. When party salience is high, more equal party receptiveness is particularly associated with greater willingness to compromise on policy to be in office.