Models of interest intermediation and policy formation applied to an internationally comparative study of the dairy industry

Available theoretical perspectives on the relationship between government and organized interests are reviewed, utilizing an internationally comparative study of government-industry relations in the dairy industry. Four analytical models are considered: meso corporatism; policy community; private interest government and the negotiated economy. The meso corporatist and policy community models provide useful insights, but are less helpful in explaining rapid and fundamental change as opposed to stability and incremental change. It is in such circumstances that the negotiated economy model can usefully be applied.