Interest groups in the Portuguese political system

Interest groups – understood here as organisations that seek to influence political decisions by defending the interests of their members – are key players in representative democracies.

This study shows that the involvement of interest groups in the Portuguese political system takes place in different arenas, namely civil society, public opinion, the media and the institutional sphere. The action of interest organisations is not an anomaly or a dysfunction in the political system, but rather part of the normal functioning of representative democracies. However, citizens' opinions of these groups are often ambivalent or contradictory, and not enough is known in Portugal about their functions, strategies and activities.

This research presents a general and systematic picture of the role of interest groups in the Portuguese political system, pointing out the challenges that their actions can pose to the political system, especially if there is a lack of transparency and control instruments, but also their potential benefits for the democratic system, particularly as a stimulus to participation and improving the decision-making processes.