1 - Democracy & Participation Flashcards
What are the features of INTEREST (Sectional) groups? Give some examples…
Interest groups = Groups which promotes particular sections/interests within society. Their membership tends to be limited to people in a particular occupation, economic position or career (motivated by self-interest).
E.g.
- Confederation of British Industry (CBI): represents big businesses, including MNCs.
- National Farmers Union (NFU).
- British Medical Association (BMA).
What are the features of a CAUSE (Promotional) group? Give some examples…
Cause groups = Groups that promote attitudes/values (e.g. education, poverty reduction, environment), rather than the common interests of its members. Their membership is open to all (motivated by moral and altruistic concerns).
E.g.
- Liberty.
- Amnesty.
- Stonewall.
- RSPB.
In what 3 ways are the differences between interest and cause pressure groups blurred?
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Both have interest and cause characteristics.
- E.g. UK coalition of people living with HIV and AIDS appears to be a sectional group, but carry out promotional activities.
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A pressure group may include members with both interest and cause motivations.
- E.g. campaign against 3rd runway at Heathrow, protestors had both local people motivated by interest concerns about demolition concerns, aswell as cause concerns about climate and ecology.
-
Groups mask their interest motivations by adopting language and arguments of a cause group: Moral and altruistic concerns often carry more weight with the public than concerns about one’s-self.
- E.g. BMA claims to protect interests of doctors, but speaks on interests of NHS.
Explain, using examples, what is meant by an INSIDER pressure group.
Insider group = pressure group that enjoys regular, privileged and institutionalised access to gov’t. They’re regularly consulted by gov’t and operate inside the decision-making process.
Ultra-insider groups = consulted on a regular basis by senior officials in gov’t.
E.g.
- MENCAP.
- BMA.
- CBI.
How has Grant categorised the different types of insider group?
- High profile insider groups: groups straddle insider and outsider divides by being both behind the scenes and mass-media oriented.
- Low profile insider groups: concentrate on developing contacts with gov’t and rarely seek to influence the wider public.
- Prisoner groups: groups are dependent on gov’t, which may fund them or have created them in the first place (Quangos).
What are Quangos?
Quangos = Quasi-autonomous-non-gov’t-organisation, a public body staffed by appointees rather than politicians and civil servants.
What is the major ADVANTAGE and DISADVANTAGE of being an Insider group?
Advantage: allows the group to exert direct pressure on policy-making individuals.
Disadvantage: insider groups goals must be broadly compatible with the gov’t, as well as a capacity to still hustle the gov’t. Insider groups have little room to manoeuvre. Prisoner groups have no option but to be insider groups.
What is an Outsider group? Give examples…
Outsider group = A group that’s not consulted by gov’t or consulted irregularly and not by senior officials. They have no special links to gov’t, they’re kept/choose to be at arm’s length from gov’t. They have to exert their influence through the media or public opinion campaigns.
E.g.
- CND.
- ALF.
What 3 categories of Outsider group are there?
- Potential insider groups: (‘threshold groups’) aspiring insider groups.
- Outsider groups by necessity: groups that lack political knowledge and skills to become insider groups.
- Ideological outsider groups: these are groups with radical aims that are not compatible with gov’t; their members are often attracted to tactics of mass activism or direct action.
For what 2 reasons might a pressure group be an Outsider?
- Denied insider status by gov’t: outsider status seems weak. Without formal access to gov’t, groups are forced to gain public support to exercise indirect influence (meaning some of the most high-profile pressure groups may be the weakest).
- May choose to be outsider groups: may fear becoming domesticated by being involved with gov’t. They may recognise outsider strategies (such as petitions and demonstrations) are the most likely way to turn supporters into activists.
What kind of tactics do Outsider groups tend to use?
Outsider groups have been attracted by ‘new politics’, which opts for a more innovative, theatrical concept, associated with the 21st/20th-century style of activism (e.g. women’s, peace and green movements). Protests have been fueled by this.
For what 3 reasons can this categorisation be unclear?
- Many groups employ both insider and outsider tactics: high profile pressure groups recognise the ability to command public support strengthens their hand at persuading gov’t.
- Insider status is more a matter of degree than a fact: Some groups are more ‘inside’ than others, in terms of level and regularity of contact with gov’t officials. Even outsider groups like Greenpeace have a degree of insider status.
- Insider/Outsider status changes over time: usually happens when new a gov’t is elected with differing goals and priorities. E.g. TUC was very strong as an insider under Thatcher but fell off under Labour.
