Democracy and Participation - Topic 1.3 Flashcards
Pressure groups and other influences
How does insider status benefit a pressure group?
If politicial decision makers consider that is to their advantage to consult with a pressure group, then the group’s influence will be guaranteed. As a result of their specialist knowledge, groups, such as the BMA and NFU, can all be called upon to supply government with specialised info to help them reach informed decisions. Whether a group has insider status is dependent on the political climate.
How does wealth benefit a pressure group?
Wealthy pressure groups will have the financial resources to employ researchers, operate offices close to important points of government access and arrange meetings with MPs. Wealth, however, doesn’t guarantee success if a group’s interests don’t coincide with those of the government.
How does celebrity leadership benefit a pressure group?
If a pressure group is connected to a famous name this will help it achieve popular recognition. Some examples have been the Ghurkas and Joanna Lumley, Mind and Stephen Fry and the free school meals campaign and Marcus Rashford.
How does social media benefit a pressure group?
Social media provide new opportunities for pressure groups to engage with the public. Platforms and hashtag campaign provide a valuable way of keeping the public informed of a pressure group’s activities while their websites usually provide opportunities to donate and sign online petitions. This way of mobilising public support has been called a ‘clickocracy’.
How does direct action benefit a pressure group?
Pressure groups can engage in civil disobedience to achieve their aims. It can create immediate publicity and can even give rise to so much disruption that the government may back down or negotiate. Trade Unions can utilise industrial action such as limits on overtime and strikes to get what they want. The extent to which depends not only on the disruptions caused but also the strength of the government to withstand them. The coercive power of trade unions has decreased however due to previous legislation that began under Thatcher.
For why are some pressure groups more successful than others?
- Resources
- Ideological compatibility with the government
- Popularity
- Expertise
A pressure group doesn’t have to have all these criteria to be successful, however, it will have to demonstrate at least one of them if it is to achieve its objectives. If a pressure group doesn’t fulfil any criteria, then it is unlikely to be successful.
How do think-tanks exert influence on the government?
They are made up of experts in a particular field who produce ideas that can form the basis for government policy making. Some of them are closely associated with a particular ideology that helps them achieve insider status. However not all think-tanks take an ideological stance, such as Chatham House, who provide impartial analyses of global politics.
How do corporations exert influence on the government?
They cultivate links with politicians. Powerful companies as well as the major interests all try to be closely involved as possible in the decision-making process to advance their interests.
How do lobbying firms exert influence on the government?
They can represent the interests of groups in society who are prepared to pay for their services. They have been criticsed for enabling powerful interests to try to buy influence. Lobbyists respond that they are being unfairly criticised for a small number of scandals. In most cases they simply open up lines of communication between MPs and groups that want to make their case. They’re necessary to democracy because they broaden the debate so that all sides are heard.
