Pressure Groups

Question 1

Types of pressure groups

Answer 1

Insider, outsider, promotional, interest

Question 2

Differences between interest and promotional groups

Answer 2

Interest groups are exclusive and seek to promote the interests of members while promotional groups usually not directly tied to the cause in a way that will benefit them and are inclusive

Question 3

Examples of insider groups

Answer 3

BMA, NFU, WWF, The National Trust

Question 4

Examples of outsider groups

Answer 4

Green peace, CND, Extinction rebellion

Question 5

Advantages of insider groups

Answer 5

Provide advice and expertise during green paper stage of legislation,proximity to gov allow more influence, tend to be more well funded and resourced allowing better lobbying and campaign, can have strong ties to parties and therefore their policies

Question 6

Disadvantages of insider groups

Answer 6

Close and cosy relationship with gov may diminish groups freedom of critique and independence due to obligation, status does not guarantee gov complacency nor permed any insider, outsider groups are also consulted at times

Question 7

Key features of outsider groups

Answer 7

Do not have close ties to gov, use direct or strike action, can be militant, may use stunts or Hugh profile action to attract attention and publicity, aim to increase awareness and apply pressure to support their cause

Question 8

Examples of outsider action

Answer 8

Plane stupid: Members chained themselves on a runway in Heathrow to protest expansion of airport and general cause against the damaging effects of planes on carbon emission which resulted in arrest, Animal Liberation Front: Have broken into lavatories which use animal testing considering this cruelty, Prison Reform Trust: Advocate for penal reform, showing marginalised and not mainstream issues being supported- have been consulted by gov on legislation

Question 9

Insider groups key features

Answer 9

More power and influence than outside, their status may be dependent on the government of the time, their position may change, may have to compromise on some of their agenda

Question 10

Labour and the traduce unions

Answer 10

Have had historical ties due to their voter demographic being linked, relationship has wavered e.g. less strong under Blair who was more centrist and reserved, Donors- in 2019 General election campaign 5 million out of 5.4 million pounds of registered donations came from trade unions

Question 11

NFA example of insider status

Answer 11

Successfully campaigned with Brussels after brexit for seasonal visas for Easter Europeans for vegetable and fruit growers to hire seasonal workers

Question 12

What does the BMA and CBI do

Answer 12

Advise on medical policy areas while CBI represents finance and business interests especially following the financial crash of 2008

Question 13

Different types of outsider groups

Answer 13

Potential insiders, Outsiders by necessity- due to nature of their cause or tactics they can not work with government, for example, CND due to differing agendas, Outsiders by choice- wish to remain independent from gov to be able to freely critique and pursue desired ares of their cause, such as Amnesty International

Question 14

Disadvantages to outsider group status

Answer 14

Disruptive methods of protest to attract attention can cause negative publicity and dissuade people from sympathy for the cause, arrests/militancy/violence may create extremist links, not as able to strongly and directly influence government

Question 15

Elitist debate

Answer 15

Pressure groups hinder democracy because: favour groups with greatest resources, connections and funding wielding disproportionate amount of power, usually consist of already dominant and powerful sections of society (National Trust), marginalised groups are overshadowed by large and powerful ones

Question 16

Pluralist debate

Answer 16

Within democracy there is pluralism and pressure groups are essential to democracy because they allow groups to compete with one another on a fairly equal footing and those views which are most legitimate and in tune with public mood and opinion prevail. This represents the interest of the majority but allows minorities to be heard and compete

Question 17

Elitist arguments

Answer 17

Insider groups use their privileged status to influence legislation before public debate, pressure groups reflect the inherently unequal distribution of power within society into politics, internal structures are not always democratic such as with Greenpeace which upholds elitism, large and powerful groups accumulate a monopoly of knowledge in their field and so are priorities over other groups opinions

Question 18

Pluralism argument

Answer 18

Large amounts of different groups coexist with freedom of speech and so all are able to be represented, social media allows less well known, powerful and resources groups to receive support and expand, in Britain there is a multitude of different groups which represent all areas and interests of society, government does not wish to alienate themselves and so different opinions are considered such as with select committee hearings

Question 19

Pressure groups help democracy

Answer 19

Better represent cross party voters as membership is higher than for parties and myriad of interests are represented that could be ignored by parties, provide forums for active political participations such as the ‘Stop the War coalition’ in 2003 against the Iraq war which saw the biggest march with 1 million protestors or the BLM protest during COVID, have innately become more democratic post 1980 reform such as a secret ballot vote on whether strike action should be taken, they inform and raise public awareness on issues allowing for debate and political knowledge, allow for issues to be represented and debated between election campaigns, include marginalised groups such as prisoners, insider specialists create link between the legislature as they provide expertise and so act as a check on the government

Question 20

Pressure groups hinder democracy

Answer 20

Large amount of members are chequebook and not active in the cause, information relayed about the cause is heavily one sided and selective which can cause misinformation for example pro abortion campaigns, lack of democratic structures which results in divisions such as Extinction Rebellion being split with a more radical group Beyond Politics in 2020, groups consulted advocate for their own interests not of the nation or consider other groups, they are not democratic and have no mandate and so lack legitimacy

Question 21

Examples of factors that affect pressure group success

Answer 21

Celebrity endorsement: Marcus Rash-ford had caused two government U turns on policy regarding children that receive free school meals to receive vouchers during Covid pandemic, Public Opinion: 1996 Snowdrop Campaign successfully and rapidly managed to pressure government into passing Firearms Act 1997 following shooting of children in Scotland, Insider Status: NFA ability to campaign for seasonal work visas for EE labour for veg and fruit farmers

Question 22

Main factors effecting pressure group success

Answer 22

Insider groups more successful than outsider, aims that accord with governments political agenda and policy are more likely to succeed, high membership and support of powerful members in their sector are more likely to succeed.

Question 23

Which group campaigned for the Windrush scandal be handled by an independent body

Answer 23

BEO ( Black Equity Organisation )