5. What factors influence the success of a pressure group

Question 1

Why can ‘success’ mean different things to different groups?

Answer 1

Success for different pressure groups can be different things:
- Affecting government policy and new legislation
- Influencing people’s beliefs, opinions and actions?
- Influencing the political agenda – bringing attention to an issue

Question 2

Why do a pressure group’s aims have such an impact on its chances of success?

Answer 2

1. A PG campaigning for local children’s play area … might have more success than … a PG campaigning for a ban on nuclear energy
   - Because their aims are more achievable, and because the issue might be more salient
2. A PG aiming to save a cute endangered species … might have more success than … a PG campaigning to improve conditions in prisons
   - Because their aims are more favourable
3. A trade union lobbying a Labour government … might have more success than … A trade union lobbying a Conservative government
   - Because their aims will be more compatible with the government’s views

Question 3

Why can financial resources give some groups an advantage?

Answer 3

Financial resources can give an advantage by:
- Hiring professional lobbyists
- Open offices near access points
- Donate to local parties
- Hard to ignore businesses that employ thousands and have great influence over the economy

Question 4

How important is the existence of an organised opposition?

Answer 4

A well resourced pressure group with significant support from the public and parliament might still find it difficult to achieve their aims
- Because many well equipped, experienced pressure groups face challenges from equally well resourced opponents

Example:
Trade Union Congress – represents 54 unions and 6 million workers
Vs.
Confederation of British Industry – represents over 190,000 public and private companies

Question 5

Why are human resources also very important?

Answer 5

• A large membership base gives the group greater legitimacy
• Makes certain methods, like strike action, much more effective
• Membership fees also increase the group’s financial resources

Question 6

What are umbrella groups?

Answer 6

Umbrella Groups – organisations that represent the interests of a number of different pressure groups, with similar interests or causes

Question 7

Why might certain methods be more successful than others?

Answer 7

15th Feb 2003 an estimated 1 million people arched to protest against plans to invade Iraq and order to remove its dictator Saddam Hussein
Biggest worldwide protest in history – around 15 million people marched around the world
But, it still failed to prevent the invasion of Iraq

However… its possible that direct action can have more long-term, indirect success
Is it arguable that subsequent prime ministers have become more reluctant to order military intervention without a strong public mandate