1.3 methods and pressure groups

Question 1

What are some of the traditional methods of participation?

Answer 1

-voting
-joining a party and helping campaign
-joining a pressure group
-signing a petition
-joining a protest
-going on strike

Question 2

What is slacktivism?

Answer 2

Clicking ‘like’ is a limited form of participation, as is forwarding a tweet or link, requiring minimum engagement. Similarly, anonymous comments are a weak and undemocratic form of participation, and can lead to trolling.
A Twitterbot can be used to generate automated posts on Twitter, making it look like a great deal of participation and therefore a lot of public support. This can cause politicians to adopt positions based of ‘fake participation’. This level of engagement is usually superficial.

Question 3

What are pressure groups?

Answer 3

Groups that seek to pressurize those in power into making a particular decision or follow a particular course of action

Question 4

What are sectional pressure groups?

Answer 4

Sectional groups have a closed membership because they look after their own section of society. These members usually have similar occupations or shared interests. These groups act in the best interests of their members and may campaign on issues like pay or wages

Question 5

What is a casual pressure group?

Answer 5

They campaign for a particular cause or issue, often one that does not directly impact its members; they are therefore campaigning on people’s behalf. These groups are relatively easy to join and are open to everyone. They are motivated by altruistic considerations

Question 6

What’s the difference between insider and outsider pressure groups

Answer 6

insider groups have a special relationship with the government and are given access to officials and decision makers. On the other hand, outsider groups don’t have such a special relationship and resort to methods that generate press to publicize their cause

Question 7

What are some of the factors that can give success for pressure groups?

Answer 7

-insider status
-wealth
-large membership
-organisation
-expertise
-celebrity endorsement
-salience of an issue, whether it gets sympathy
-whether it aligns with public opinion/ government opinion
-methods

Question 8

What are umbrella groups and why are they successful?

Answer 8

they represent a large number of pressure groups- with a broad membership basis, they have a large influence

Question 9

Example of insider status causing success in a pressure group

Answer 9

In 2014, the Howard League for Penal Reform successfully campaigned to end the ban on prisoners receiving books sent to them by family or friends.

Question 10

Example of wealth causing success in pressure groups

Answer 10

In 2012, the British Banker’s Association paid lobbyists to persuade ministers to cut corporation tax and tax on banks’ overseas subsidiaries

Question 11

Example of large membership causing success in pressure groups?

Answer 11

In 2015, the RSPB utilized over 500,000 members to help carry out extensive research as part of its Big Garden Birdwatch

Question 12

Example of organisation creating pressure group success?

Answer 12

In 2012, the RMT organized a series of strikes to secure a bonus for members during the Summer Olympics

Question 13

Example of expertise creating pressure group success?

Answer 13

In 2016, the AA provided evidence/statistics to persuade the government to increase the penalties for using a phone while driving

Question 14

Example of celebrity endorsement creating pressure group success

Answer 14

In 2009, Joanna Lumley and the Gurkha Justice Campaign secured equal rights for British and Commonwealth soldiers

Question 15

What are the reasons that make a pressure group fail?

Answer 15

-chequebook membership
-slacktivism
-small membership
-outsider status
-goal contradicts gov policy/ popular opinion
-the group alienates the public
-countervailing forces

Question 16

What is chequebook membership

Answer 16

people join a group for material purposes and are less likely to get involved in campaigning

Question 17

What is an example of a large protest failing as the government were able to resist the pressure?

Answer 17

15th February 2003, an estimated 1 million people went to protest against plans to invade Iraq with the pressure group Stop the War coalition, with 15 million people marching around the world. However, despite this, the attacks went ahead as there was much cross party support in Parliament

Question 18

Example of countervailing forces leading to pressure group failure?

Answer 18

The pro-smoking group forest has failed to prevent restrictions on smoking in the UK, largely because the pressure group ASH has successfully campaigned for restrictions

Question 19

What is an example of pressure groups who have failed because their goals go against popular opinion?

Answer 19

Groups such as the Coalition for Marriage failed in their campaign against the legal recognition for same sex marriage because most of the public opinion was in favour for it

Question 20

Example of pressure group who have failed because their cause alienates the public?

Answer 20

use of violence- such as by the Animal Liberation Front
Similar rise with Just Stop Oil causing public disruption, even though most are in favour of supporting the climate

Question 21

What is the aim of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT)?

Answer 21

to promote and defend the rights and conditions of all members employed in the transport industry

Question 22

What is an example of a success from the RMT?

Answer 22

They lobbied TFL and the London Underground over its concerns on the workload placed on staff in the Summer Olympics. After an offer of £500 bonus and £850 bonus subject to conditions, which were both rejected, a bonus of £1,000 for drivers and £850 for all other staff was offered and accepted with no conditions

Question 23

What was the reason for the successes of RMT during the Olympics?

Answer 23

-importance of the Olympics put a spotlight on the UK and hence pressure on the government
-large membership meant they could effectively close the tube during the Olympics if they wanted to
-Bob Crow was able to raise the media profile of the issue

Question 24

What is an example of RMT failure?

Answer 24

In 2015-16, the Underground began to close ticket offices, moving staff onto platforms which raised concerns over passenger safety and job security. They began a 48 hour strike and took a legal case to court, but had failed by June 2016, as 289 ticket offices were closed

Question 25

Why did the RMT fail over issues in 2015-16?

Answer 25

-strikes failed to gain public support
-lack of public sympathy
-the London Underground and TFL were committed to closing the offices
-the court case was rejected

Question 26

How many members does Greenpeace have worldwide

Answer 26

2.9m

Question 27

What are some of Greenpeace’s methods?

Answer 27

direct action- such as boarding a whaling ship or destroying GM crops to gain media attention
lobbying politicians- such as over Hinkley Point nuclear power station
insider status- inside the UN

Question 28

What is an example of Greenpeace success?

Answer 28

In 2011, they launched a campaign to stop the practice of tuna fishing using aggregating devices, which can catch and kill many other fish at the same time. Action resulted in UK supermarkets providing clearer labelling and stopping buying tuna caught using unsustainable methods after 2014.

Question 29

What is an example of Greenpeace failure?

Answer 29

In 2011-12 they failed to prevent Cairn energy from exploring gas reserves on Greenland.

Question 30

Why did Greenpeace fail to prevent Cairn energy from exploring gas reserves on Greenland?

Answer 30

-methods alienated the local population and made them turn to the oil company
-previous campaigns had already alienated the public as Greenpeace wanted to secure a ban on whale and seal meat (Traditional food for Inuit people)
-lack of support from UN despite insider status
-political considerations were more important to local people as wanted the flow of revenue to become independent from Denmark

Question 31

Why are methods of pressure groups important?

Answer 31

an e-petition which receives over 100,000 signatures is more likely to succeed than a protest attended by millions
-the government may respond better to official channels than media coverage as they don’t want to be seen as giving in

Question 32

Why may protests be more successful in the long term?

Answer 32

While protests may not have a short term impact, they may have a longer term one as the government is unlikely to undertake similar policies in future that they know may have a consequential public outcry

Question 33

what is a think tank?

Answer 33

a group with the purpose of formulating and developing policy ideas through research and advocacy. They look to influence the government over the aims of their institute rather than for members

Question 34

Why can think tanks be beneficial for democracy?

Answer 34

carry out extensive research and release information that helps to educate and inform the electorate. Suggestions to the government may by impartial, helping the government to make decisions in the national interest

Question 35

Why may a think tank hinder democracy?

Answer 35

they work largely in the interest of their founders and they can create poor-quality, misleading research, leading the public to make false decisions

Question 36

What is lobbying?

Answer 36

When people meet with key political figures to persuade them to support their aims

Question 37

What strategies may lobbyists use?

Answer 37

-map out political strategies and key politicians who need to be persuaded
-create a media strategy
-arrange meeting with key players, by offering to create hospitality and selling seats next to figures or creating corporate boxes
-coordinate research
-direct access to a person in power

Question 38

Why is lobbying seen as a negative part of democracy?

Answer 38

creates an elitist environment as expertise go to those with the most money

Question 39

What concerns were raised in 2021 about lobbying?

Answer 39

The public accounts committee criticised a lack of transparency in the awarding of contracts for PPE during COVID-19. The media reported links between ministers and companies awarded with the contracts.
Then, Boris Johnson sought to change the rules on MPs conduct and block the recommendation that Owen Paterson be suspended from Parliament for 30 days. Paterson had lobbied the government on behalf of two companies who paid him as a consultant. In the face of public adversity, Paterson resigned and Johnson retreated with new curbs being proposed on MPs having second jobs

Question 40

What are corporations roles in swaying the government?

Answer 40

regularly work closely with the government to develop practical legislation and will pressure the government to gain advantages. This may be through lobbying or exerting influence in their sector of the economy

Question 41

How can corporations pressure the government?

Answer 41

by threatening to relocate, increasing unemployment (directly and in support industries selling services) and showing the UK would lose economic strength

Question 42

Why are corporations a positive thing in democracy?

Answer 42

their ability to access the government could be seen as a positive in a pluralistic economy as they represent major parts of the economy and employment.

Question 43

Why are corporations a negative thing for democracy?

Answer 43

Multinational corporations like Facebook, Amazon and Starbucks use their position to gain benefits in the UK to act on their own interests