Pressure Groups Flashcards
Types of pressure groups
Insider, outsider, promotional, interest
Differences between interest and promotional groups
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
Examples of insider groups
BMA, NFU, WWF, The National Trust
Examples of outsider groups
Green peace, CND, Extinction rebellion
Advantages of insider groups
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
Disadvantages of insider groups
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
Key features of outsider groups
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
Examples of outsider action
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
Insider groups key features
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
Labour and the traduce unions
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
NFA example of insider status
Successfully campaigned with Brussels after brexit for seasonal visas for Easter Europeans for vegetable and fruit growers to hire seasonal workers
What does the BMA and CBI do
Advise on medical policy areas while CBI represents finance and business interests especially following the financial crash of 2008
Different types of outsider groups
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
Disadvantages to outsider group status
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
Elitist debate
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
Pluralist debate
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
Elitist arguments
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
Pluralism argument
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
Pressure groups help democracy
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
Pressure groups hinder democracy
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
Examples of factors that affect pressure group success
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
Main factors effecting pressure group success
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.
Which group campaigned for the Windrush scandal be handled by an independent body
BEO ( Black Equity Organisation )
