Leadership overlap and party-group linkages: evidence from the Portuguese case

Abstract

Most studies on the interaction between political parties and interest groups rely on organizational or ideological/programmatic linkages. However, leadership overlap can also be a relevant dimension not only because of the increasing importance of informal relations between the two types of political actors but also given the mutual benefits these ties have in terms of decision-making processes. Drawing on an original dataset of party and interest group elite networks, this study examines party-group connections by relying on the profile of leadership in Portugal and investigates whether the crisis has affected the links between these actors. The findings indicate that leadership overlap is rather weak and that it mostly concerns trade unions and left-wing parties. Finally, these linkages demonstrate substantial stability over time, suggesting the importance of ideological proximity.