are pressure groups good for democracy?

Question 1

what’s pluralism?

Answer 1

a situation where different groups, including PGs, compete equally for power and influence

Question 2

what’s elitism?

Answer 2

the idea that powerful elites dominate society and the government

Question 3

arguments that pressure groups are good for democracy:

Answer 3

1. they are an essential part of democracy as they allow different sections of society to be heard by government
2. they allow people to focus on one issue that concerns them e.g. the environment, although that may not be a gov.’s key concern for an election
3. they increase political participation
4. many have more membership than political parties, suggesting they are more relevant to the public - e.g.RSPB has over 1 million members, which is more than the three main political parties combined
5. they provide the gov. with info and statistics it might not otherwise discover which os good for democracy as it makes the gov. better informed

Question 4

arguments that pressure groups aren’t good for democracy:

Answer 4

1. they give a louder voice to the most powerful which is undemocratic - rich educated and well connected people are better able to form influential PGs then the poor and disadvantaged, and can afford to hire expensive lobbyists and lawyers
2. they often have limited internal democracy so don’t truly represent their members
3. they are unaccountable to the electorate, unlike political parties
4. they only focus on one particular issue to the exclusion of everyone else
5. violent and aggressive campaigning methods are contrary to the rule of law and liberal democracy