ETVT that pressure groups are good/enhance democracy Flashcards
Do pressure groups enhance democracy
They are not
- They widen representation
- They widen participation
- They widen power
They DO widen participation
The level of political participation is a very good indication of a healthy democracy, pressure groups allow individuals greater voice in politics whilst also making it possible to focus on specific policy areas. There is only so much you can achieve with a vote.
There has been huge growth in direct action, for example groups such as Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion have seen direct action as a method to bring attention to specific issues.
In 2013 the Passionate Collaboration study found that 139 environmental groups they had analysed had a total membership of 4.5 million, meaning one in 10 adults are members of such groups. Conservative party membership is only 200,000 and labour only have 400,000 members, this means there is now a very successful alternative way of participation.
Since the 1960s it is clear there has been a growth in pressure groups, particularly surrounding environmental issues.
Don’t Stop oil in 2022 took part in scaling bridges, spray painting buildings, blocking roads and Vandalism of Artwork.
In 2020 thousands of people attended the ‘Black lives matter’ movement in the UK through protests and on social media
ASH, or Action on smoking and health, spreading knowledge about the harmful effects of tabaco use.
PETA, ethical treatment of animals
Turnout in elections and party membership has faltered recently, the rise of pressure groups has meant that participation is still significant.
They DONT widen participation
Much of participation of pressure groups is purely check book membership, when signing up to groups such as the National Trust, you receive free entry to many areas and free parking, you receive perks and don’t actually engage in politics and participation is therefore ineffective.
Critiques argue that individual participation at the expense of falling vote turnout and party membership is a sign of laziness, it has been labelled with the word ‘Slacktivism’ and argued that these kinds of individual actions are no replacement for voting or joining a party.
Participation through other means is more important and shouldn’t be sacrificed for pressure groups.
They DO widen representation
Pressure groups allows for greater representation of views across society, due to our indirect democracy, elected representatives will not always ensure that minority opinions are heard.
RMT union, represents workers interests, in 2016 they secured a £500 consolidation payment to all operation staff following the introduction of the night tube and during the 2012 Olympics they secured bonus payments for workers.
Cause’ groups such as ASH and Greenpeace can represent specific issues that may not get attention it needs in parliament. Action on Smoking and Health In February 2006, ASH won its campaign for legislation which created comprehensive smoke-free indoor workplace regulation, introduced in England on 1 July 2007.
They DONT widen representation
Influence from pressure groups is exerted in a way that is undemocratic, such as strike action, blockades, intimidation and violence, they ‘hold the country to ransom’.
In 2022 58 people from the Just Stop Oil movement were arrested as they caused blockade on the M25, on the 21st June 2022 40,000 rail workers went on strike. Arguably they are operating outside the established legal and constitutional framework and therefore undemocratic.
However lobbyists in the UK seek to further their own private interests.
In 1998 political lobbyist Derek Draper was caught by the Observer boasting about his links to at least 17 people in the labour government, while in 2009, two labour peers were suspended from the HoL after offering to make amendments to legislation in return for payments of up to £120,000.
In 2012 Lord Blencathra a former conservative minister in John Majors government was found to have accepted £12,000 per month contract in which he agreed to lobby on behalf of the caman islands.
Representation is not good for democracy when wealthy individuals can disproportionately represent their views.
Tyranny of the minority, because pressure groups serve to primarily represent minorities in society, this means that sometimes the voice of the minority view is given greater value than anything else, this is not effective representation and bad for democracy.
They DO widen power
Pressure groups constantly compete against each other which in turn evens out the spread of power; no group can be dominant indefinitely, as there is always another which challenges it. Public policy is formed around ongoing debate between pressure groups.
The tobacco lobby may have been influential before 1997 but is power waned in the face of effective campaigning by the Action on Smoking and Health and the Health professional community.
Furthermore widening power can bring greater expertise and decision making to policy and therefore increase in legitimacy.
For example the Scientific and Public polling evidence put forward by the ASH and the Health community was crucial inf forming the 2006 health act passed by the labour government.
Furthermore widening power to corporations is beneficial because not only do they have significant expertise by they are crucial for the economy so their voice should be heard.
For example the British Bankers Association whose tag line is ‘the voice of banking’ have built strong ties with the government in order to influence policy.
They DONT widen power
Corporate bodies and interest groups do not have legitimate power as they are not elected bodies, therefore despite there expertise they don’t offer a great deal of legitimacy to government policy, therefore widening of such power is not good for democracy.
Widening political inequality, those who have greater access to resources and finance have greater impact and influence.
Transparency international reported that between April and June 2014 8/10 of the most frequent lobbyists of UK ministers were from large corporations listed under the top 100 companies on the stock exchange.
This means that the interests of powerful companies such as the BBA come over the general population and the electorate.
Trade Unions on the other hand has seen a decline in membership and power since the 1970s, with only around 13.5% of those who work in the private sector being unionised as of 2020.
