Pressure group Roles & Group Classification Flashcards
What are pressure groups?
pressure groups are like minded individuals who campaign for their collective interests and/or in pursuit of a common cause
Why are pressure groups significantly more numerous than political parties ?
because they have a tendency to fragment opinion whereas political parties tend to aggregate and accommodate a wider range of views in effort to be elected
In recent years, what pressure groups have become more popular over the larger more traditional sectional and cause groups ?
smaller, more focused single-issue groups
Who do single-issue groups look to represent?
the interests of a very small group of individuals
What is an example of a single issue cause which is focused on the limited breadth and time?
single issue groups focused on the efforts prevent specific construction projects such as a road or runway
What do some people describe the rise of single issue politics as?
as a fundamental change in the nature of political participation within the UK
What are the 3 roles of a pressure group ?
1) Participation
2) Representation
3) Education
How do pressure groups perform the role of participation?
pressure groups provide people with an avenue for non-electoral participation between elections.
They encourage and enable citizens to get involved in the political process
How do pressure groups perform the role of representation
pressure groups represent their members’ sectional interests or advance a common cause , by aggregating and articulating the common interests/concerns of a given groups of individuals
How do pressure groups perform the role of education?
pressure groups act as a source of specialist knowledge. They help governments weigh up the merits and demerits of proposed policies.
Their activities serve to educate the broader public, raising awareness of their chosen cause or interest.
Why is the role of education by pressure groups na advantage for the government ?
They help governments weigh up the merits and demerits of proposed policies, thereby avoiding costly mistakes and unnecessary confrontation.
What are sectional groups?
These groups seek to protect the interests of a particular section of society, can be refereed to as ‘interest’ or ‘protectionist’ groups
Describe the membership of sectional groups?
membership is normally exclusive, restricted to the section of society whose interests they serve
Give an example of a teachers union?
NASUWT
Who do the teachers union NASUWT represent as a sectional group ?
will represent the interests of its members who will be practising teachers
What are cause groups?
These groups seek to promote a particular cause, also known as ‘promotional’ groups
Describe the membership of cause groups
they seek a broader membership than sectional groups and do not necessary stand to benefit directly from their campaigns
What are the 3 sub categories of Cause groups?
- Attitude cause groups
- Political cause groups
- sectional cause groups
What are the aims of attitude cause groups?
their aim is to change peoples attitudes on a particular issue
What is an example of an attitude cause group?
Greenpeace who seek to change attitudes on the environment
What are the aims of political cause groups?
their aim is to achieve certain political goals
What is an example of a political cause group ?
Charter 88
What are the aims of sectional cause groups?
their aim is to protect a section of society
What is an example of a sectional cause group?
the NSPCC who works on behalf of children but its members and supporters are not all children
What is a problem with classifying groups by aims?
this ignores the fact that many groups campaign for a cause as well as representing the interests of their members
How do teachers unions count as hybrids?
they would claim to be working for broader improvements in education policy as well as representing the sectional interests of their members
Who created the Protective/Sectional and Promotional/Cause group classifications ?
Stewart 1958
Who created the Insider and Outside group classification?
Wyn Grant 1980’s
What are the 3 types of insider groups?
- Core insiders
- Specialist insiders
- Peripheral insiders
Who are core insiders ?
those that have a strong 2 way relationship with policy makers over a broad range of issues
Give 2 examples of insider groups?
- BMA (had been)
- NFU
- RSPB
Who are specialist insiders?
those who are granted inter status with a more narrow area of expertise
Give an example of a specialist insider?
-WWF
Who are peripheral insiders?
those who have insider status but are only rarely needed by government due to the nature of their interest/cause
Give an example of a peripheral insider ?
Dogs Trust
Name the 3 types of outsider groups ?
- Potential insiders
- Outsiders by necessity
- Ideological outsiders
Who are potential insiders?
those who are outside due to the nature of their case or inexperience
Who are an example of potential insiders?
-Charter 88 before 1997
Who are outsiders by necessity?
those who are unlikely to achieve high status and must work outside the government
Who are example of outsiders by necessity ?
- CND
- Father4Justice
Who are ideological outsiders?
Those who prefer to remain outside the system
Who are an example of an Ideological outsider?
Amnesty International
What is an advantage of classification through insider/outsider status?
helpful in assessing the likelihood of a group achieving its central aims
Name 2 problems with the insider/outsider status ?
- Some groups can operate to an extent as both insiders and outsiders
- status can depend on present Government
What pressure group is an example of when status depends on present government?
Charter 88 was outside the political loop before 1997 general election but assumed more influence following Labour’s victory
