Do pressure groups help or hinder democracy Flashcards
Democratic Advantage…
How do they affect government operations?
Keep governments more responsive to the wishes of the community, especially in between elections.
Democratic Advantage…
What is their relationship with minorities?
Express the views of minority groups in the community who might not otherwise receive a hearing.
Democratic Advantage…
Influence policy?
Use their expertise to provide the government with important information and advice (Mainly interior) while offering an alternative source of advice to the government, separate from that coming from the Public Service
Democratic Advantage…
Promote participation?
Promote opportunities for political participation for citizens, they allow for the democratic rights of freedom of speech, assembly and association to be upheld thus enhancing pluralism. Otherwise opportunities to regularly be involved in politics might be sparse.
Democratic Deficiency…
Powerful minority?
Pressure groups may represent a powerful minority force in society and exert political influence to the detriment of the majority of society. This is an argument often levelled at trade unions and business groups (Amazon or Trade Unions of 1978)
Democratic Deficiency…
Disproportionate influence? - Unfairness?
Some pressure groups exert influence because of their financial position, membership or organisation. This influence may be out of proportion to their position in society.
Democratic Deficiency…
Harmful direct action?
The use of direct action by pressure groups (eg. strikes by unions, demonstrations, blockades, pickets) can cause hardship to the community in general like Plane Stupid or XR
Democratic Deficiency…
Democratic Deficiency in itself?
Some pressure groups are not democratic in themselves. Some have powerful, but unrepresentative leaders who may not be representative of anyone but themselves. So in a way there is a lack of democratic safeguarding in these groups.
