1. What are pressure groups and social movements Flashcards
How are political parties and pressure groups different?
Pressure Groups:
* Aim to influence the government
* Huge number in existence
* Can be divisive
* Not held accountable
* Focus on particular issues
* Members may have different views on other political issues
Political Parties:
* Aim to form a government
* Comparatively few in number
* Often aim for broad appeal
* Held accountable at elections
* Need to consider every issue
* Members broadly back their party’s positions on many issues
What are single-issue parties?
Single issue parties only focus on one issue (e.g. Cannabis Law Reform, We Demand a Referendum Party)
Single-issue parties do not expect to win, they use the election for protest votes and publicity
What are social movements?
Social movement – an informal network of people who support broadly similar goals
What are pressure groups?
Pressure groups – a formal organisation with members who share quite specific goals
How and why do the methods used by social movements change over time?
As social movements often call for significant, and often radical, changes to society, they can find it hard to work through political parties, instead favouring protest and direct action
However, as a movement becomes more popular, its goals may be co-opted by more formal groups and political parties
what is an example of a social movement? (Labour)
The Labour Movement:
- During the industrial revolution, many people moved out of the countryside to work in the newly industrialised towns and cities
- The growing working classes had shared identity and a broad set of aims, like higher pay, shorter working hours and safer conditions.
Pressure groups – Trade Unions
Political Parties – The Labour Party
what is an example of a social movement? (Environmental)
The Environmental Movement:
- In the 1950s-70s, the development of nuclear weapons/ energy, a series of oil spills, and improvements in public education, made many people concerned about the environment
- Big increase in anti-nuclear demonstrations – many people begin to make lifestyle changes
Pressure Groups – Green Peace
Political Parties – Green Party
Examples of left-wing movements
Left Wing:
- Peace movement
- Environmental movement
- Feminist movement
- Gay rights movement
- Labour movement
- Civil rights movement
what are examples of right-wing movements
Right Wing:
The Rural Movement
- 2000 – Peoples Fuel Lobby – truck drivers and farmers blocked fuel deliveries to protest increasing prices
- 2002 – Countryside Alliance led a march in London to oppose a ban on fox hunting and raise other rural issues
what are the 6 main functions of pressure groups
- representation
- participation
- education
- policy formation
- policy implementation
- scrutiny/ accountability
describe representation (pressure groups)
- Territorial Representation – constituencies represented by a particular MP / Party
- Functional Representation – pressure groups represent specific sections of society –> ensure that all interests and views are considered –> help to give minorities a voice that they might otherwise lack
describe participation (pressure groups)
- Provide a means of participation in-between infrequent elections
- For many people they offer a more direct and attractive alternative to political parties
describe education (pressure groups)
- Public – raise awareness and inform the public about political issues
- Government – provide evidence and use expertise to improve legislation
describe policy formation (pressure groups)
- Many pressure groups work closely with government to develop new policies
describe policy implementation (pressure groups)
- The government often relies upon the cooperation of pressure groups to implement its reform
describe scrutiny/ accountability (pressure groups)
- Pressure groups help to hold representatives accountable
- They have the resources and expertise to scrutinise bills and monitor the government’s actions
