Organizations that are not technical may also have Special Interest Groups, which are normally focused on a mutual interest or shared characteristic of a subset of members of the organization. An important example for this are
trade unions. For identity-based advocacy groups, see
identity politics. The
Japan Association for Language Teaching has several SIGs. Together they organize a Pan-SIG conference each year.
Mensa International has over a hundred SIGs.
Political interest groups These interest groups support and
lobby for areas of special need. For example, the
Sierra Club focuses on protecting the environment as well as the wild places on earth. They also promote education on preservation of the environment. Similar
advocacy groups promote their special interests and organize to help them with their issue. These political "entrepreneurs" are the classic view of the policy maker. Such groups need a patron to provide capital and support, so the cause has to be one that many will support, in competition with other causes that similarly seek support. Many of these dominant groups have subgroups that lobby for more specific issues, but assist in the overall cause. ==See also==