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This paper presents a model of special interest group behaviour in developing countries. It argues that interest groups display different lobbying patterns across political systems as a result of variation in institutional incentive structures and voter preferences for parties or candidates. In systems, which give parties control over the career prospects of their members, lobbies target political parties for their efforts. In systems which the careers of members are not controlled by their party, lobbies target individual members. The paper discusses a screening model which derives the conditions for these outcomes. It then presents some preliminary evidence from a survey of interest groups in Brazil and India to test this theory. The data broadly support the theory. Further statistical analysis is needed to estimate the exact impact of different institutional features