ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at one aspect of the delivery of Devolution: the place of interest group representation in what has been heralded as a New Era in Scottish politics. Prior to the 1999 Scottish elections, interest groups within Scotland were mobilising their resources in order to focus on the new Parliament. Some commentators believe that in Scotland's 'New Democracy' there will be no need for pressure/interest groups, as civic society will play a greater role in policy making; although others consider that such groups undermine party based representation. For much of recorded history, democracy has meant participation in decision making rather than the selection of decision-makers. The direct participatory approach has been revisited in recent decades in different terms for example: deliberative democracy, and developmental democracy. Developments concerned with the transformation of democratic practices have emerged because many advocates of Devolution were at least subconsciously dissatisfied with representative, party-based politics.
