Democracy And Participation- Pressure Group Influence Flashcards
What are the factors that can affect pressure group success ?
Insider status
Group size
Public support
Factor: Insider status
How this factor increases the likelihood of pressure group success and influence
Example
Insider groups may be given the opportunity to offer their views on draft legislation.
Example: private healthcare companies helped draft the controversial Health and Social Care bill that they themselves stood to benefit from.
Factor: Insider status
How this factor might not guarantee pressure group success and influence
Example
Not all insider groups are
influential in every circumstance.
Example: the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has strong ties to the Conservative Party but has not been able to influence government policy on Brexit in the way it would like to.
Factor: Group size
How this factor increases the likelihood of pressure group success and influence
Example
A larger membership can be important in persuading government that a pressure group reflects a significant section of public opinion.
Example: The Campaign to Protect Rural England has 40,000 members and has been largely successful in defending the green belt from property development.
Factor: Group size
How this factor might not guarantee the likelihood of pressure group success and influence
Example
Larger group size does not always bring success.
Example: the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament had an estimated 110,000 members in the mid-1980s but arguably had little influence on government.
Factor: Public support
How this factor increases the likelihood of pressure group success and influence
Example
Pressure groups that can demonstrate large-scale public support are more likely to have influence.
Example: the Snowdrop Campaign to ban the use of handguns was successful largely because of the public reaction to the 1996 Dunblane primary school massacre.
Factor: Public support
How this factor might not guarantee the likelihood of pressure group success and influence
Example
Government attitudes may matter more than public opinion.
Example: the 2013 badger cull went ahead, regardless of the public outcry and concern from animal welfare groups.
