Question

Explain how an issue network differs from an iron triangle in terms of which groups are involved and their relationships with one another.

Answer 1

An issue network usually consists of various independent and autonomous interest groups, pressure groups, individuals, actvist groups, institutions with some common interests, goals, cause, and/or agendas who come together to form a collective alliance and influence government policies towards any domestic and/or international issue/s. These common interests or goals under an issue network usually pertain to the overall social and public welfare which brings together all its members or groups. An issue network can essentially operate through various social and public media channels and mediums such as social media platforms, internet blogs, news channels, online video and podcast broadcasting, website promotions, and so forth to diseminate and publicize its common cause or objective and put public pressure to influence any government policy/s. On the other hand, an iron triangle basically constitutes a triangular relationship or coalition of various commercial and business organizations, public agencies, and other federal and congressional institutions that intends to highlight or press forward a common interest for incorporation into government policy considerations.Now, issue networks can basically consist of free-forming independent informal groups or organizations and individuals which collective strive to influence government policies to promote or highlight their common goals or interests pertaining to general public welfare but in contrast, the iron triangles are generally formed by private business or commercial organizations and other formal/official public sector congressional and federal agencies or committees to put forward a particular issue or agenda that is congruent to their collective self-interest. Now, unlike the iron triangles, once the common issue or goal of the issue network is resolved through a favorable government policy implementations, the individual groups and organizations within the issue network usually dissolves until any new common interest, issue, or goal unites the again and further work together to influence government policy/s favorably. The groups, agencies, and organizations within iron triangles usually are continually united based on their common interests and hence, are much more sustainable than the issue networks. Furthermore, the members of issue networks and iron triangles usually share an inimical or antagonistic relationship with each other based on the difference between their respective goals or objectives. The main or central goal or objective of the iron networks is to ensure and raise overall public welfare as much as possible pertaining to any particular public issue or policy consisderation at the administrative level. However, the major objective or goal of the iron triangles often includes private and commercial interests of the private business entities and congressional and federal agencies and interest groups which practically contradicts with general public and social welfare such as reduction or constancy in minimum wage of the industrial or manufacturing laborers or workers, the negative environmental and health/medical impact of industrial and business operations in society, or unequal, discriminatory, and inequitable economic treatment of laborers/workers and unfavorable working conditions, and so forth.