POLITICAL INTEREST GROUPS: SURFRIDER FOUNDATION
This research examines the Surfrider Foundation within the context of political interest group theory. The Surfrider Foundation was organized to combat the actions of industrial firms that threatened the quality of ocean waters as such quality affects the activities of surfers (Capellaro, 1991, p. 15). This rather narrow focus was subsequently expanded to the pursuit of broader-based water quality protection objectives (Wexler, 1992, pp. 50-51).
This examination begins with a review of political interest group theory. Approaches to environmental protection are then discussed. Lastly, the organization and functioning of the Surfrider Foundation and an environmental protection organization is assessed within the context of political interest group theory .
Conceptually, public interest objectives tend to be perceived as the advocacy of a social cause, such as human rights or the welfare of children or the protection of the physical environment (Becton, 1991, pp. 58-62). Public interest objectives are by an large manifestations of the pursuit of social causes. The very term public interest tends to create misconceptions of public understanding related to the justness or desirability of the causes pursued and the motivations of the people pursuing those causes. One case in point with respect to the justness or desirability is the Children's Defense Fund (CDF). Promoting the protection and welfare of children certainly appears on it face to be a noble objective to most people. When CDF founder and guiding light Marian Edelman attempts to promote the idea only children have real problems and that problems such as they are that confront adults should not be addressed if such action means curtailing any CDF objective, as she frequently does, however, support for the CDF public interest group tends to wane. Social causes, to gain widespread public acceptance, must be societally ...