A NICHE THEORY OF INTEREST REPRESENTATION

The theory of organizational niches may provide important bridging con cepts upon which an integrated theory of interest groups might be deve loped. After discussing Hutchinson's (1957) n-dimensional niche concep t, we develop several hypotheses about the reliance of interest organi zations on multiple resource dimensions. These are tested with survey data on interest group leaders in the American states. On the basis of preliminary evidence of niche partitioning, we conclude that internal resource dimensions-exclusive access to members and finances-may be m ore critical than securing exclusive access to officials in a balkaniz ed policy process in defining viable interest group niches. We conclud e by outlining a research agenda using niche theory.