1
Q
Pluralism
A
The concept that democratic politics involves numerous groups competing for power and influence
- characterised by a wide dispersal of power
2
Q
Political Agenda
A
The issues that are the subject of decision-making and debate by those with the political power
- changes with time/circumstance
-changes depending on which party is in power
- pressure groups aim to get their policy area high up on the political agenda
3
Q
Insider pressure groups
A
- groups with close ties/contacts with the govt.
- often represent powerful, well-resourced groups
- often offer specialist knowledge/insight that can be useful to the govt. when drawing up legislation
- typically seen as more powerful than outsider groups
4
Q
Outsider pressure groups
A
- groups that lack strong ties with the govt.
- often represent more marginalised or radical policy agendas
- often use direct action to publicise their aims
5
Q
Promotional groups
A
- seen as selfless in their objection as they are representing a cause rather than just the self-interest of their members
6
Q
Interest groups
A
- exist primarily to defend the interests of their members, eg. trade unions
- more selfish in their aims than promotional groups
7
Q
Advantages possessed by insider pressure groups - Proximity to government
A
- the close relationship with govt. allows for good channels of communication
- if an insider group has an alliance with a political party, they can have lots of influence, especially if that party is in power
- eg. under Labour govts. before 1997, trade unions were widely consulted on aspects of industrial and economic issues to help form policy
8
Q
Advantages possessed by insider pressure groups - Resources
A
- usually well resourced and funded, so can hire professional lobbyists and sponsor relevant APGs (All-party Parliamentary Groups)
- eg. the RSPCA donated £16,500 to the animal welfare APG who in turn raised their concerns and worked on animal welfare legislation
9
Q
Advantages possessed by insider pressure groups - Government inquiries
A
- insider groups are often invited to take part in and give evidence to select or public bill committees
- the govt. usually listens as they rely on the insider groups for specialist knowledge when legislating
- eg. in 2013, the King’s Fund (independent health pressure group) gave evidence to the Health Select Committee inquiry into emergency services and care
10
Q
Case Study IPG - National Trust
A
- has a membership of over 5 million
- lobbies the govt. on issues such as climate change
- routinely consulted on arts and cultural issues
- it’s ties with parliament mean that it can declare land ‘inalienable’, meaning it can never be built upon or compulsorily purchased with specific parliamentary approval
11
Q
Case Study OPG - Extinction Rebellion
A
- global environmental movement that uses direct action to bring attention to the climate crisis
- first major action was in August 2018 when it blocked a road in Trafalgar Square
- has successfully drawn the govts. attention, eg. in May 2019 Corbyn called on the govt. to declare a national environment and climate emergency
- their destructive tactics have led them to be branded as environmental fanatics and a poll found that 54% of British adults were either strongly or somewhat opposed to their disruptive actions
- overall, despite receiving lots of negative press they have generated significant attention around environmental issues, including catching govt. attention
12
Q
How do pressure groups promote elitism?
A
- pressure groups fundamentally hinder democracy as the groups with the best connections and resources wield disproportionate influence
- groups that influence weaker, marginalised groups in society are effectively excluded
- many pressure groups are themselves undemocratic in structure, and are dominated by internal elites, eg. Greenpeace
- powerful/well-resourced groups often ‘have the ear’ of govt. and can influence and manipulate policy before it is publically revealed or debated
13
Q
How do pressure groups promote pluralism?
A
- nearly all groups in modern British society have pressure groups that represent them
- social media has allowed smaller pressure groups to all their voices to be heard by masses of people
14
Q
How do pressure groups help democracy?
A
- have internally democratic structures, eg. trade unions have regulated secret ballots for internal positions and when they want to take industrial action
- contribute positively to public awareness and knowledge of specific issues. they promote political education and allow both voters and policy-makers to be better informed
- target democratic bodies like Westminster, local councils, and devolved assemblies
15
Q
How do pressure groups hinder democracy?
A
- unlike elected representatives, pressure groups have no direct democratic mandate and lack political legitimacy
- information put out by PGs is inevitably one-sided and selective. groups highlight the positive aspects of their stance and refute/ignore information from other standpoints (this is especially true for emotional issues like immigration and abortion)
- groups consulted on new laws and regulations tend to argue only their own case and offer proposals that benefit their own interests
16
Q
Factors in pressure group success
A
- In tune with govt. policy and idealogy
- eg. the 1997 Labour govt. was generally positive about gay rights and so repealed legislation that prevented promotion of homosexuality in schools - Celebrity endorsement
- Marcus Rashford led a campaign to secure free school meals for children from low-income families, and forced the govt. into 2 policy U-turns - In tune with public opinion
- after huge public outcry after the Dunblane shooting, the Snowdrop Campaign put pressure on politicians to change the law on private ownership of handguns and quickly led to the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997
17
Q
Factors in pressure group failure
A
- strong countervailing forces, eg. the Coalition for Marriage which resisted gay marriage faced opposition from the gay rights lobby and groups like Stonewall
- hostile political climate, eg. in 2003 the Stop the War Coalition organised massive rallies against the Iraq invasion, but Blair had a landslide majority and was committed to the policy so the group did not avail
- lack of resources
18
Q
Countervailing forces
A
equally powerful groups that work against the cause and objective of another pressure group
19
Q
Methods: Direct action
A
- the most extreme method used
- can include blockades, riots, and property damage
- the Animal Liberation Front (a UK animal rights group) has engaged in direct action, like stealing animals from captivity, circuses, and farms and sabotaging facilities they see as cruel
- went as far as bombing Britain’s biggest testing laboratory
20
Q
A
21
Q
Methods: Research and publications
A
- after carrying out their research, pressure groups may publish reports to educate both the public and policy-makers
- eg. the Taxpayers Alliance produces research on government spending and taxation policies to advocate for lower taxes and fiscal responsibility
22
Q
Methods: Lobbying
A
- involves directly influencing policymakers by meeting with them, providing information, and making persuasive arguments
- environmental groups like ‘Greenpeace’ and ‘Friends of the Earth’ lobby MPs to support legislation for stricter environmental regulations
23
Q
Think tank influence
A
- specifically set up to undertake policy research and development, which is then published and often used by pressure groups with similar priorities
- eg., the left wing Fabian Society that focuses on a wide range of policy issues (formally affiliated with labour)
24
Q
Lobbyists influence
A
- firms hired to help target a group’s message as effectively as possible
- provide professional advice about campaign & communication strategies and can arrange meetings, especially if suffering from ‘revolving door syndrome’
25
Corporations influence
- big business is constantly in contact and consultation w/ govt. and its departments
- businesses carry weight as they provide jobs and pay tax
- corporations can put pressure on the govt. by threatening to move factories and jobs out of the UK
26
Media influence
- the media has always had a large influence over politics, especially Fleet Street
- in 2019, tory-leaning press headlines read 'Here's why Corbyn is unfit for No. 10'
- with the emergence of social media, Fleet Street has had less impact
- during the 2019 campaign, Twitter itself accused the tories of misleading the public
27
Example of a corporation applying pressure onto the government
- following the Brexit referendum in 2016, Nissan was concerned about the UK's future trade relationship with the EU
- they warned warned that if the UK did not secure a favourable Brexit deal, it could reconsider its investments in the UK and potentially move production to other countries within the EU
- eventually, Nissan reached a deal with the govt. and agreed to keep its manufacturing plant in England
28
Revolving door syndrome
- when former ministers go on to work for lobbying firms
- eg., in 2017 veteran Labour MP Barry Sheerman became the chair for the Policy Connect lobbying firm
29
Example of a lobbyist influencing the government
- Morgan Roberts lobbying firm worked with the charity Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust from 2006-2008, campaigning for a UK-wide vaccination program for HPV
- the policy was adopted in 2008
30
Example of a think tank influencing the government
- in 2018, the Centre for Social Justice called on the govt. to scrap plans for building 5 new women's prisons and replace them with community-based alternatives
- the govt. subsequently adopted their approach
31
Successful PG - RSPCA etc
In 2004, the RSPCA and other groups joined forces to campaign for the ban on hunting which was eventually successful in the Hunting Dogs Act 2004
UK Government and Politics
flashcards
Decks in class (10)
# Cards
