pressure groups Flashcards
pressure group aim
influence policies and political decisions or change public attitudes without looking to gain political office
what are pressure groups
an organised group of people all together with the purpose of achieving a political goal
they do not seek political office
seek to change policy through influencing public opinion and parliament
usually particular focused on one policy
crucial to a pluralist democracy
insider groups
have contact with ministers and parliament decision makers and consult government departments about policy
NFU with DEFRA
in line with views of government
low profile and rely on discreet or high profile using media and lobbying
priviledges of insider groups
seen as more moderate
do not take extreme action to keep the govt on their side
examples of insider groups
National Farmers Unions and NICE and BMA
outsider groups
not consulted by govt and do not have contact
aim to gain support of public opinion objectives far from the mainstream, more radical, govt unlikely to talk to them
may believe discussing with govt will remove their ideological purity
examples of outsider groups
plane stupid - against expansion of airports
occupy London - key anti capitalism
saw govt as closely aligned to global capitalism which is trying to overthrow
sectional groups
represent a specific section of society
promotional groups
have a single idea they are concerned of or pormoting of
e.g Stop HS2
Pressure groups enhance democracy - yes
Allow for public participation, government can gauge public views
Represent minority groups
Educate the public on particular issues allowing them to make a rational educated vote
Pressure groups enhance democracy - no
Groups that already have power have their power enhanced, weakening smaller groups
The power given to groups is arguably non-legitimate as they are not elected
Minority views may take precede over the majority
What are think tanks
Groups of experts which are brought together to investigate and discuss policy on particular ideas
unlike the civil service they have political leanings and have strong connections to parties
What are lobbyists
People paid by organisations and corporations to try and influence parties and MPs
How much is estimated to be spent on lobbying in the uk
£2bn
Pluralism
Concept that different social groups (based on race, gender, class) can politically cooperate
Political agenda
Ideas an aims that political groups/ government wish to discuss and debtse
Promotional groups
Aim to influence an idea or policy
Interest groups
Aim to influence policy benefitting a type of group in society
Pressure groups enhance democracy
-Compensate for tyranny of majority by representation of minority
E.g disability discrimination act 1995 following protest
-plugs the gap in electoral process. (Scrutiny only every 5 years)
Geographical election gap closed by ability to protest on anything
E.g. London cycling campaign anyone can vote on matters only flaw London
-encourage participation
Party membership is decreasing but pressure group member ship increasing
Cons party= 500,000 members national trust= 4,000,000 members
What are think tanks
Public policy research organisations that seek to influence govt policy
3 features of think tanks
Investigate social and economic affairs, initiate their work themselves and seek funding
Publicly release there works
Aligned on the political spectrum
Independent think tanks
Chartham house - environmental, foreign global issues
Policy Exchange
The work foundation - labour
Centre right wing think tanks
Adam smith institution
Institute of economic affairs
Centre left think tanks
Fabian society
Institute for public policy research
Lobbyists
members of professional organisations paid by clients seeking access to influence government to prevent/promote legislation damaging their interests
Benefits of lobbying
Can provide valuable information enriching the decision making of politicians
Increases the pluralist nature of Parliament and the uk
Example of lobbying
Before 1997 election Bernie ecclestone founder of F1 donated £1 million to labour
This then influenced them to allow cigarette advertisement in formula one
Insider pressure group methods
Drafting legislation participation
Provide research and finding to govt
Give evidence to select committees
LOBBY government using private contacts
give special advice - NFU gave conservative government specialised knowledge in return for policy power
Outsider group methods
Public stunts - just stop oil 2022 blocking roads and glueing themselves gained a lot of publicity and hihglighted their cause
2010 student demonstration participants were prosecuted for disorderly conduct
Media campaigns/online petition
Public demonstrations
Measures of pressure group success
Funding
Organisation
Public support
Government support
why do people join PGs
funded by membership - feels beneficial from acitivyt
public involvement]strong affiliation and want to be involved
legal representation and protection e.g. trade unions
causal groups
focused on particular issue
membership open to anyone
Greenpeace - environmental concerns
charities e.g. oxfam
sectional
particular group in society
trade unions
negotiate over working conditions and wages
limited membership to specific groups e.g. BMA and doctors
social movements
increased with social media and internet
more loosely structured
politically radical
single objective
major Iraq anti war 2003 750,000 demonstrators
Fridays for future climate change
black lives matter
BREXIT demonstartions - peoples vote march and epetition to revoke article 50 with 6 million signatures
thatcher effect on TUs
deliberately excluded from previous insider status
thatcher wanted to reduce their power
show show groups can switch from insider to outsider with changing political circumstances
BMA as insider/outsider method
insider status but staged strikes after faced with conservative determination to impose a new contract on junior doctors in 2016
BMA status and cause
insider sectional group who’s main cause is to protect the interests of doctors though it can also act as a a causal group for public health
BMA policy influence
originally campaigned for ban on smoking in cars but with insufficient support they switched to ban when children were being carried gaining support from asthma UK
BMA social media
used online technology to allow supporters to lobby MPs
BMA influence on hoL
made its case to HoL, a labour peer introduced an amendment to Family and Children bill which passed HOL and HOC and became into force in October 2015
BMA succès evaluation
shows importance of focusing on attainable popular goals knowing which access points in government to target and gaining support of public opinion and govt
NFU status and aim
insider sectional group which has close contact and lobbying success with DEFRA with its specialised expertise, and importance of farmers to the UK economy
NFU success
2013 introduced badger cull to control the spread of bovine turbuclosis to farm animals despite pressure groups supporting animal welfare strongly opposing it
rashford campaign for school meals status and aim
outsider causal
RCFFSM methods
put significant pressure on government to reverse its decision to not extend free meals using petitions open letters and social media which generated a social movement
RCFFSM success
govt reversed decision June 2020 after rashfords powerful open letter to govt
RCFFSM evaluation
shows importance of clear leadership, public support and celebrity endorsements for outsider pressure groups
just stop oil
no clear leadership
gained lots of media attention in 2022 through disruptive public demonstrations
outsider causal pressure group formed to put pressure on govt to end all new licenses for the product. of fossil fuels
just stop oil failure
goal is very large and difficult to attain and are yet to receive any government support or policy change
how is success of pGs difficult to judge
varies considerably
some outsider groups may consider publicity as success
insider groups don’t boast about success to not offend govt contacts
govt will not admit any outside influence - they want to take credit for their final decision
goals are so large that they may already have public support for years even if no direct policy change
climate of public opinion
reason for pg success - resources
a large membership who pay subscription allows to fund offices, staff and organise publicity
RSPCA employs approx 1600 people supported by thousands of volunteers and can spend lots on advertising
TUs through industrial action influence require a bigger membership
size also may influence govt depending on proportion of public
reason for success - strategy and leadership
knowing which access points to target
(lobbying PMBs, local govt)
important for outsiders to ensure public support is on side
Strategy and leadership example RSPCA
RSPCA played a key role securing a ban on hunting dogs in 2004 by collaborating with two groups ( league against cruel sports and international fund for animal welfare) to stop them competing
reasons for success - public support
PGs that support a larger proportion of public support are more successful, as are those who use peaceful methods as to not alienate supporters
PUBLIC SUPPORT example lumley
Joanna lumleys large public support in the Gurkha justice campaign, which campaigned for Gurkha soldiers rights to live in the uk was important in helping overturn a ban in 2009
reasons for success - govt attitudes
govt will focus on groups with specific expertise that it can find common grounds with
e.g NFU links to Defra in 2013
ability of government to be adaptable and change their minds is important to outsider groups
PGs are more likely to have access when a govt is weak/have a small majority
right wing think tank
Adam smith institute
left wing think tank
fabian society
how do think tanks have influence over government
ultimately have to be ideologically aligned with the government
they may come up with policy solutions using expertise
think tank influence criticism
often viewed a s springboard for young people entering the political industry and may suggest impractical idealistic policy
think tank influence example
universal credit benefits system was set up by the Centre of Social Justice and implemented be the coalition government
the shift in the conservatives 1970 to an overtly free market approached owed a great deal to thatchers patronage of right wing think tanks such as Adam Smith institute
criticisms of lobbyists
only benefits wealthy individuals gaining influence as they can afford the fees
undercover journalists posing as lobbyists to entrap MPs with rewards
the parliamentary code of conduct strictly forbids MPs to accept money to represent a viewpoint
in 2014the government made it a legal requirement for lobbyists to register all activity
how much is spent on lobbying yearly
£2 billion
revolving door process
lobbyists will hire former politicians which has further privilege and connections
lobbying example - cash for questions
1990s John major
a number of conservative MPs were accused of accepting money to ask particular questions in parliament
the guardian reported Neil Hamilton accepting £2000 to ask question on behalf Al Fayed
corporations example
BofE during COVID gave out £7.5 billions worth of loans to help companies struggling
