The document discusses Theodore Lowi's concept of "interest group liberalism" which refers to the influence that organized interest groups have in writing and shaping public policy in the United States. It provides Lowi's definition of interest group liberalism as a system that justifies power by avoiding the law and allowing private parties to make public policy. It also discusses how interest group liberalism can impact any policy debate as different interest groups representing business, climate change, human rights, etc. will advocate for different approaches to policies towards China. The role of the government is to consider views from all these competing interest groups to establish a balanced policy.

1. 1. Considering the information provided in the case study, do
you think JP Morgan is focusing on the most egregious
inefficiencies?
2. Do you think the introduction of these funds was good for JP
Morgan's bottom line? Why or why not?
Patrick Katsaris
Sep 27, 2021 3:02 PM
Interest group liberalism can be defined as a system that “seeks
to justify power by avoiding the law and by parceling out to
private parties the power to make public policy.”[1] This system
can be characterized as a liberal endeavor that is optimistic
about the function of government and seeks to accomplish the
common good.[2] In this method, powerful interest groups not
only influence public policy, but write it themselves for
lawmakers and decision-makers to consider, vote on, and then
implement. This method, as Lowi describes, became prominent
in the United States as our government and country became
increasingly more powerful. Now, to manage that power and
deliver expectations to the people, the government relies on
countless interest groups to inform them on issues and even
draft legislation for their consideration.
The public policy I am exploring is the foreign policy towards
China. Interest group liberalism runs the gambit on Chinese
foreign policy through economics, defense, trade, climate
change, intellectual property, human rights, and so forth. This is
the second assumption from Lowi, which he claims, “organized
interests emerge in every sector of our lives and adequately
represent most of those sectors.”[3] Interest groups that focus
on trade, for example, companies that want to establish factories
in China for its cheap labor, may organize and lobby key
policymakers that would remove tariffs and sanctions so that
they can more easily open factories in China.

2. On the opposite side of the coin, human rights interest groups
that want to see China penalized for their oppression of Hong
Kong, Tibet, and the Uighurs may advocate for sanctions and
increased tariffs as a form of punishment. One example of
interest groups influencing China domestically and
internationally was the clean energy groups that pushed towards
wind energy. Interest groups in the United States, European
Union, and China itself were able to push China to reduce
carbon emissions and adopt more wind energy infrastructure.[4]
Lowi’s assumptions on interest group liberalism can define my
Christian calling of focusing on foreign policy towards China.
In the third assumption, Lowi states that “the role of
government is one of ensuring access to the most effectively
organized, and of ratifying the agreements and adjustments
worked out amongst competing leaders.”[5] On policy towards
China, there will have to be some compromise and some
consensus. The business interest groups cannot get everything
they want if the climate change interest groups and human-
rights interest groups are actively lobbying the government as
well. It is the role of the government to consume and digest
information from interest groups to establish a policy that is
beneficial to everyone, particularly Americans. As it is written
in Isaiah, “Guard my common good: Do what's right and do it in
the right way, For salvation is just around the corner, my
setting-things-right is about to go into action.’[6]
[1] Theodore J. Lowi, “The New Public Philosophy,” at The
End of Liberalism: The Second Republic of the United
States(New York: W.W. Norton, 1979), pp. 45-52.
[2] Lowi, “The End of Liberalism: The Second Republic of the
United States”.
[3] Lowi, “The End of Liberalism: The Second Republic of the
United States”.
[4] Xingchi Shen and Shoujun Lyu, “Wind Power Development,
Government REGULATION Structure, and Vested Interest
Groups: Analysis Based on Panel Data of Province of

3. China,” Energy Policy (Elsevier, January 22, 2019), last
modified January 22, 2019, accessed September 27, 2021,
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301421
519300230.
[5] Lowi, “The End of Liberalism: The Second Republic of the
United States”.
[6] Isaiah 56: 1.
Travis Oum,
According to the article, Grady defines "Interest Group
Liberalism" as Interest group liberalism is Theodore Lowi's
term for the clientelism resulting from the broad expansion of
public programs in the United States, including those programs
which were part of the "Great Society." [1] Interest group, also
called particular interest group, advocacy group, or pressure
group, is an association of individuals or organizations, usually
formally organized, that, based on one or more shared concerns,
attempts to influence public policy in its favor. The common
goals and sources of interest groups obscure the fact that they
vary widely in their form and lobbying strategies both within
and across political systems.
Furthermore, the interest group liberalism can impact any kind
of debate regarding public policy because Liberal governments
cannot achieve justice. After all, the definition of justice under
liberalism is unclear and difficult to use. The whole idea of this
justice is absurd. [2] Although this environment is necessary to
all political climates, a nation cannot survive in this
environment alone or often because it often evolves into an
environment of distrust and an unhealthy level of political
cynicism.
Nevertheless, since the 1960s, when Lowi authored this text
because he believed we were in a state of political crisis,
interest groups have grown exponentially. This is due to growth
in overall economic developments and the specific interests of

4. citizens willing to take an active role in political processes.
Interest group ideology has thrived on inadequate planning and
overextension. [3] Effective government requires formalities
and moral legitimacy. Lowi argues that if well-moneyed
interests do not grow to exercise an unjustly disproportionate
amount of political capital, interest groups should be wel comed
in American politics as a means by which the average citizen
can enjoy a tremendous amount of political efficacy. Lowi
points out that nearly every area of government activity.
Interest-group liberalism ideology has thrived on inadequate
planning and over extension. Effective government requires
formalities and moral legitimacy. Lowi argues that if well -
moneyed interests do not grow to exercise an unjustly
disproportionate amount of political capital, interest groups
should be welcomed in American politics as a means by which
the average citizen can enjoy a more significant amount of
political efficacy. [4] According to the Bible, "Whoever sows
injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail.
Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his
bread with the poor. Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out,
and quarreling and abuse will cease. He who loves purity of
heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king as his
friend. The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge, but he
overthrows the words of the traitor."
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[1] Spitzer, Robert J. “Liberalism and Juridical Democracy, or
What’s Interesting about Interest Group Liberalism.” PS:
Political Science and Politics 23, no. 4 (1990): 572–74.
[2] Grady, Robert C. “Interest-Group Liberalism and Juridical
Democracy.” American politics quarterly. 6, no. 2 (1978): 213–
236.
[3] Grady, Robert C. “Juridical Democracy & Democratic
Values: An Evaluation of Lowi’s Alternative to Interest-Group
Liberalism.” Polity 16, no. 3 (1984): 404–22.
[4] Proverbs 22:8-16.