The Macro-Political Context and Interest Groups' Access to Policymakers

Abstract The article explores how macro-level political factors in conjunction with micro- and meso-level affect interest-group access to policymakers. analysis is conducted based on two original data sets: a population ecology database of Czech, Hungarian, Polish Slovenian national-level energy policy, healthcare higher education organizations, an online survey these populations. Combining the sets allows us investigate both polity-, population- organizational-level factors. As sampled countries have recently experienced democratic backsliding, we also test effect closing deliberative structures. reveals that process influences access: legislative fractionalization affects positively, while closure structures has negative effect. Nevertheless, contextual are mediated through variables at (e.g. size latent constituency) organizational expertise provision) levels, as well interorganizational cooperation.