lobbyists, think tanks and corporations

Question 1

Think tanks

Answer 1

• a collection of experts who provide advice and solutions to specific political, social or economic problems
• think tansu can research policy and influence policymakers

Question 2

The influence of thinks tanks

Answer 2

• try an influence public policy + policy debate through having direct access
• they use the media and other policy organisations to disable their work more widely
• think tanks aim to generate policy ideas based on their research which politicians have no though about

Question 3

Think tank example ; The legatum institute

Answer 3

• gained an influence on parliament & government ministers who supported leaving the EU
• they helped daw a letter with Borris Johnson and Michael Gove to PM Theresa may which outlined Brexit demands
• Legatum members held private meetings with civil servants and ere referred to as a if an influence by Michael Gove in the HOC

Question 5

Lobbyists

Answer 5

• Lobbyists are paid to influence decisions-Akers to the government, including MP’s and HOL members, to create policies and at in the interests of their clients

Question 6

How lobbyists influence politics

Answer 6

• influence can be achieved through political donations and gifts
• lobbyists work on behalf on organisations and allow organisations to have influence over decisions that impact & effect them
• Lobbyist influence can be most significant when lobbyists have significant access to and personal contacts who are politicians and decision-makers

Question 7

Lobbyists example ; Hanbury Strategy

Answer 7

• hanbury strategy was set up by a meet Gill, a former special adviser to former PM David Cameron + Paul Stephenson a director for the campaign group vote leave
• both founders have personal connections to senior decision makers wiki the conservatives
• lobby primarily around credit issues that affect their clients

Question 8

Corporations

Answer 8

• corporations seek to lobby the government to encourage them to legislate in certain areas

Question 9

Corporate political influence

Answer 9

• corporations try to influence political decisions makers by controlling sectors of the economy so they can put pressure on decision-makers and gain more favourable policies and laws
• they influence by funding polictal parties, which gives access to political decision-makers
• corporations often hire lobbyists to gain access

Question 10

Corporation influence example

Answer 10

• after the decisions to revoke uber license, uber took heavy lobbying to convince the public and authorities that transport for London made the wrong decision

Question 11

Insider methods used by pressure groups

Answer 11

• try to access key decisions makers - the PM, Cabinet and civil servants - to argue their case directly
• provide specialist information and advice when the government is considering new legislation ; this provides pressure groups with access to influence governments
• try. To target and influence specific members of the HOC and HOL etc

Question 12

Outsider methods used by pressure groups

Answer 12

• mass public campaigns such as marches and demonstrations to put pressure on government (eg the Stop the war and anti-austerity demonstrations in London)
• publicity stunts of various kinds
• social media, e-portions, internet
• use of celebrites

Question 13

Direct action used by pressure groups

Answer 13

• marches & demonstrations
• trade unions may go on strike
• sit-ins
• illegal acts

Question 14

Factors influencing the success of pressure groups

Answer 14

• social status (eg nurses have low economic power but high social status - NHS demonstrating against cuts received a lot of support)
• wealth (can afforded expensive lobbyists - Unison is wealthy with over 1.2 million members
• celebrity (eg Jamies Olivers campaign for good food in schools revolutionised our attitude to school meals)
• public support (eg the NSPCC campaigns against cruelty to children have widespread support which draws attention from the government)
• size (eg Age UK represents 12 million pensioners which are usually well looked after by accuses I’ve governments)

Question 15

Strengths of pressure groups

Answer 15

• enable individuals to participate in the political process between elections
• reflect the pluralist democracy, giving citizens another voice
• counter balance the tyranny of the majorly by lobbying on behalf of minorities
• can bring expert knowledge to the government
• keep the governments on their toes - act as a limit to government power
• promote debate and educate and inform the electorate - ensure healthy debate

Question 16

Weaknesses of pressure groups

Answer 16

• can be divisive and selfish, one powerful can dominate
• can stop things which others honk are needed (opposition to HS2 raised concerns about environment, house prices and noise and others had concerns about the economic benefit)
• not accountable to the public - often with with government behind closed doors
• can make the country hard to govern and manage if they get perplexed with multitude of pressure groups blocking their actions