Learning Objectives

  1. Explore financial firms’ response to the 2008 housing crisis to understand how interest group members try to wield the levers of political power to shape policy.
  2. Summarize the challenges associated with interest group activity.
  3. Discuss the types of interest groups in the American political landscape and the different tactics they use.
  4. Explore the efforts of Occupy Wall Street to understand the challenges individuals face and the strategies they employ to make social and political changes.
  5. Analyze the tactics social movements use to advocate on their members’ behalf and contrast them with those of interest groups.