Pressure Groups Flashcards
What are the main type of pressure groups?
-interest groups
-Promotional groups
-Insiders
-Outsiders
What are interest groups?
-exist to protect or advance the interests of their members
-closed membership
-members are motivated by self interest (The BMA, the RMT union)
What are promotional groups?
-exist to promote a value, ideal or principle
-membership open to all
-members tend to be motivated by altruistic considerations (Greenpeace, RSPCA, Extinction Rebellion)
What are insider groups?
-enjoy regular contact with the government
-typically work behind the scenes, rather than engaging in high profile publicity stunts which could threaten the groups status
-tend to have mainstream goals (Confederation of British Industry, National Farmers union)
What are outsider groups?
-don’t have regular contact with the government
-often forced to engage in publicity stunts to move the cause up the political agenda
-often campaigning on issues rather than providing controversy (RMT union + Insulate Britain)
Why do people join pressure groups?
-representation: many not feel like they are being represented by the main political parties + often have minority interests
-to share personal beliefs
-participation: people wanting to get involved beyond elections
-material beliefs: many people join because of the benefits rather than the group itself (AA breakdown cover boosts membership BUT membership aren’t passionate about the issues + causes)
-need: job protection, joining a trade union (see it as the only way to achieve a desired goal)
What are the main functions of pressure groups?
-representation: parties provide territorial representation where are pressure groups provide function representation + important for minority groups who lack influence in the commons + act as a check on the tyranny of the majority
-participation: means that people can get involved between elections + provides a different for participation for this who have been disillusioned with main stream politics + pressure groups also have more specific aims than parties
-Education: raise awareness and inform the public + drawing attention to issues that may have otherwise gone unnoticed + they also provide evidence to the government and help to draft policy + gov is keen to work with pressure groups, as it the pressure group that will implement the legislation
What are access points?
-points at which pressure groups can exert pressure on decision makers
What access points are used by insider groups?
-executive branch: lobbying ministers (groups who can afford professional lobbyists), gov consolations on white/green paper bills + influence policy communities and policy networks as well as influencing secondary legislation
-legislative branch: select committees (can provide evidence at hearings) = PMBs (can lobby a MP to adopt a cause)
-political parties: donations (bossiness tend to have strong links with the conservatives and trade unions tend to have a strong link with labour)
-Judicial Branch: legal challenges (ultra vires) and legal interventions (group submit additional information for consideration in cases which affect their interest
What access points are used by outsider groups?
-Indirect lobbying: publicity stunts, social media, celebrity endorsement, e-petitions + tend to focus efforts on mobilising public opinions
-Direct Action (legal): strikes, sit-ins, boycotts and important method for trade unions tend
-Direct Action (illegal): harassment, property damage, trespassing
Why do pressure groups succeed?
-insider status
-wealth
-aims
-mass membership
-organisation
-expertise
-celebrity endorsement
How can insider status help a group succeed?
-the group can use its insider status and contacts to exert influence on ministers and civil servants
-in 2014 the Howard League for Penal Reform (insider, cause) successfully campaigned to end the ban on prisoners receiving books sent to them by family or friends
How can wealth help a group succeed?
-the group’s wealth enables it to afford lobbyists and/or advertising space
-2012 the British Bankers’ Association, now known as UK Finance (insider, interest) paid lobbyists to persuade ministers to cut corporation tax and taxes on banks’ overseas subsidiaries
How can aims help a group succeed?
-aligned with gov? ASH (insider, causal) has enjoyed success in recent years as its aims are strongly aligned with the major parties and the Department of Health
-popular? The RSPCA (insider, promotional) has considerable public support in its campaign against animal cruelty
-Realistic? Rather than attempt to pressure government to raise the national minimum wage, the Living Wage Foundation (outside, promotional) has enjoyed success by campaigning on an employer-by-employer basis
How can mass membership help a group succeed?
-means you can control a large section of the electorate and also have a number of people ready to take action
-RSPB (insider, promotional): 1 million
-Unite (outsider, interest): 1.4 million
How can organisation help a group succeed?
-effective management and coordination will allow a group to maximise its resources and target them effectively to help achieve its goals
-2021: the RMT Union (outsider, interest) organised a series of strikes to secure a bonus for members during the olympics
How can expertise help a pressure groups succeed?
-a pressure groups that has knowledge and expertise over a particular policy areas is more likely to be listened to and respected by gov, civil servants and the public
-2016 the AA (insider, promotional) provided evidence and statistics to persuade the gov to increase the penalties for using a mobile phone while driving
How can celebrity endorsement help a group succeed?
-a popular celebrity will generate press interest and raise the profile of a cause and may help draw members to the group
-Lumley’s support for Gurkha Justice Campaign (outsider, promotional) in 2009 secured publicity for the group which led to the Gurkha’s securing their right to settle in the UK
Why do pressure groups fail?
-aims to contradict gov policy
-gov is secure
-stronger opposition groups
-unpopular aims
-methods alienate the public
How do the aims of pressure group contradicting government policy affect a pressure group?
-if gov is determined to follow a policy then it is very difficult for a pressure group to persuade it to change course
-the conservative gov of 2015-17 was determined to introduce a ‘7-day NHS’ so the BMA’s (insider/outsider?, interest) campaign against the proposals largely failed
Why does government security mean that a pressure group will fail?
-strong gov will feel able to resist/ignore a group’s campaign
-The Stop the War Coalition (outsider, promotional) organised mass rallies against the Iraq War in 2003
-with large majority and cross-party support in parliament, Blair gov resisted the pressure and ignored the group
Why do stronger opposition groups mean that a pressure group will fail?
-a pressure group may campaign against another, more powerful or popular pressure group which ‘wins’ the debate
-pro-smoking group Forest (outsider, promotional) has failed to prevent restrictions on smoking in the UK largely because it lost out to a range of opposition groups ASH (insider, promotional) which has successfully campaigned for restrictions on smoking
Why do unpopular aims mean that a pressure group will fail?
-a group will likely fail if its campaigning for a cause that is unpopular with the public as the gov will be more inclined to follow popular feelings
-the Coalition for Marriage (outsider, promotional) failed in their campaign against gay marriage as public opinion war largely in favour of
Why does using methods that alienate the public mean that a pressure group will fail?
Public:
-a group may make itself unpopular by committing acts that alienate public opinion
-between 2013-14 the Fire Brigades Union (outsider, interest) faced widespread criticism for a series of strikes linked to a pensions dispute
-group using direct action methods that seriously disrupt the public are likely to face hostility
-2021 Insulate Britain faced widespread condemnation for blocking the M25
What are the aims of ASH?
-aims to spread knowledge on the harmful effected of tobacco
-aims to pressure the gov to adopt policies and laws to reduce tobacco usage
What are the methods used by ASH?
-conduct research and publicise existing research on the effects of tobacco
-sponsored research into the effects of passive smoking and e-cigarettes
-lobbies, lawmakers and govs
What are the strengths of ASH?
-led by experts in the field
-groups experience has it enabled it insider status
-aims are aligned with the gov and broadly popular
What are the weaknesses of ASH?
-Department of Health funding is ring-fenced so it cannot be sued to lobby the gov
What are the successes of ASH?
-restrictions on tobacco adverts
-health warnings on packaging
-raised age of purchase to 18
-the gov has legislated against smoking with children in cars
What are the aims of FOREST?
-to counter act the de-normalisation of smoking
-prevent further restriction on the purchase of tobacco
-amend public smoking bans to ensure that smokers have the use of designated smoking areas
What methods are used by FOREST?
-online pieties
-appearing before the HoC Health Select Committee
-speaking at public and private events
What are the strengths of FOREST?]
-receive funding from the UK tobacco industry
-Nigel Farage endorsed the group
What are the weaknesses of FOREST?
-opposed by an array of insider pressure groups
-groups aims contradict gov policy
-groups aims are unpopular
-not aligned with any mainstream party
What are the successes of FOREST?
-UK smoking has not yet been extended to open public spaces such as parks and beaches
-UKIP endorsed the policy of having a smoking room in pubs and clubs
What are the failures of FOREST?
-gov has introduced a range of anti-smoking legislation
-Health Act 2006 banned smoking in almost all public space
What are the aims of BMA?
-acts as a doctors trade union to improve pay and conditions
-lobbies the gov for improvements in healthcare and public health
What methods are used by the BMA?
-meets with and lobbies ministers
-briefs MPs
-play a leading role in the health polecat community
-liaises with the Health Select Committee
What are the strengths of the BMA?
-members pay almost 500 a year (around 180,000 members)
-the sole contract negotiator for doctors in the NHS
-insider status (highly respected by the gov)
What are the successes of the BMA?
-successfully lobbied for an opt-out system of organ donations in 2017
-got the Sugar Tax in 2018
What are the failures of the BMA?
-criticised the govs decision to move from a 3 week to a 12 week gap between vaccinations in 2021
What are the aims of Greenpece?
-stopping climate change
-eliminating toxins
-working for peace and the removal of nuclear weapons
What methods are used by Greenpeace?
-publicity stunts: climbing the shard
-challenges the activity of whalers, nuclear testers and illegal fishers
-provides reporters to the gov and public
What are the strengths of Greenpeace?
-has 28 offices across the world
-3 million members worldwide
-has 200 million in global revenue
-May support the group aims (including businesses)
What are the weaknesses of Greenpeace?
-may business opposed the pace of change promoted by Greenpeace
-unpopular aims
-unpopular methods: groups use of direct arguably reduced its credibility
What are the successes of Greenpeace?
-2021:decision to open a coal mine in Cumbria was placed under review following objections from Greenpeace and other groups
-2019: all major parties made pledges to cut to net zero in the near future
What are the failures of Greenpeace?
-in 2016 100 Nobel Laureates singed a letter criticising Greenpeace for its campaigns against GMO’s claiming it was anti-science
What are the aims of the National Trust?
-preserve’s Britian’s countryside and properties
-‘for ever for everyone’
-promotes biodiversity and nature conservation
What methods are used by the national trust?
-meets with and lobbies ministers and civil servants
-publicly criticises gov + policy and organises petitions
Strengths of the National Trust:
-has membership of 6 million
-owns over 600,000 acres
-some its its senior officials drawn from the top ranks of civil service
-legislation gives its property a unique status (means it can never be built upon or compulsorily purchased without parliamentary approval)
-recieved government grants for specific projects
Weaknesses of the National Trust:
-group has a large ‘chequebook membership’
-most members only passively support the trusts’ campaigning and lobbying work
-group is criticised for its disproportionately white and middle class membership
-historically links between many of its properties and the slave trade
What are the successes of the National Trust?
-2011: criticised the govs proposals to make changes in planning laws in England that would make easier to build Greenfield sites
-gathered thousands of signatures opposing the change
-gov responded by modifying proposals
-gov has committed itself to tree-planting and net-zero targets in response to the climate emergency
What are the failures of the national trust?
-despite modifications made to gov proposals to make changes to planning laws in England (majority of proposed changes were made)
-the gov regularly disappoints the trust with policy decision which result in the development of Greenfield sites undermine ambitions to deal with the climate emergency
What were the aims of extinction rebellion?
-to force the gov to declare a climate and ecological emergency to communicate the need for urgent and drastic change
-force the gov into immediate and drastic action to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050
-establish a citizens assembly to address the climate emergency
What methods are used by extinction rebellion?
-direct action such as: blocking road, gluing activists to the London stock exchange building, blockading printing sites to prevent newspaper publication
-encourages mass arrests in an attempt to fill up police cells (protests in 2019 led to 1828 arrests)
What are the strengths of extinction rebellion?
-very high public profile (dominated news bulletins on several occasions)
-thousand of climate activists have joined XR protests
-the public, scientific and political establishment are increasingly accepting of the notion that climate change is real and a serious threat (receptive to XR’s cause)
What are the weaknesses of extinction rebellion?
-the group is holacratic (there is no formal hierarchal leadership structure)
-the structure has resulted in divisions, splits and pointer groups
What are the successes of extinction rebellion?
-environmental concerns moved up the political agenda in the 2019 general election
-all major parties set a net zero target in their 2019 manifestos
-2019: one of XR’s founders gave evidence to the business, energy and industrial strategy select committee and called for a citizens assembly
-his recommendation was accepted and the citizen assembly convened in 2020
What are the failures of extinction rebellion?
-govs 2050 net target falls were short of XR’s 2025 target
-XR’s disruptive methods have drawn much criticism form the media and there are significant levels of public hostility to the group
-there have been incidents of members of the public forcibly removing XR protestors from roads and trains
What other organisations seek to exert pressure on the government?
-think tanks
-corporations
-professional lobbying firms
-the ‘revolving door’
What are think tanks?
-under take policy and research development with is published and used to push certain policy areas + grew in significance during the new labour era + normally privately funded (either by businesses or private individuals)
-2017: 30 think-tanks had a combined annual income of 65 million + were fairly balanced across the ideological spectrum
-some think tanks are highly ideological + pro-free market Institute of Economic Affairs + Fabian society are left wing formally affiliated to Labour
-some more non-political (Centre for Social Justice)
What are corporations?
-corporations may be consulted by the gov on legislation relevant to their business
-lobby the gov (through professional lobbyists) for favourable conditions of business such as low taxes, fewer regulation and better infrastructure
-exert influence by donating to parties and think-tanks and by threatening to relocate their business
-2017: Chief Executive of HSBC warned that the bank would be forced to consider relocating its offices from London to Paris unless the UK gov swiftly negotiated a satisfactory Brexit transition to deal with the EU
What are professional lobbying firms?
-usually employed by corporations or wealthy pressure groups to meet with politicians
-there are currently 100 lobbying firms
-Bell Potting a lobbyists representing Dyson claimed to have ensured that the PM raised concerns regarding copyright infringement with Chinese Leaders in 2011
What is the revolving door?
-lobbies are often ex-politicians and senior civil servants who have been through the revolving door
-former ministers who wish to become lobbyists must seek permission from the civil service body ACOBA (Advisory Committee of Business Appointments)
-usually a cooling off period between leaving office and taking up a lobbying position
-Cash for Access Scandal 2015
-undercover investigation revealed the former gorging secretaries Sir Malcom Rifkin and Jack Straw had offered to represent firms to global diplomats in return for free
Argument that pressure groups are good for democracy:
-they help to prevent a ‘tyranny of the majority’ + organised pressure groups are vital for giving minority groups a voice (liberty-asylum seekers)
-encourage participation: provide opportunities to participate in-between elections + offer an alternative means of political participation for those who are uninterested in the main political parties
-they help policy formulation and implementation: Ministers and MPs are rarely experts on every issue + pressure groups are regularly consulted so that parliament can make informed decisions
-their scrutiny leads to more effective gov legislation + the gov and select committees consult a wide number of pressure groups + recognise that their input is necessary in order for policy and legislation to miss dangerous pitfalls and unintended negative consequences
Argument that pressure groups are bad for democracy?
-they can make it difficult for the gov to make decisions that are in the broader public interest + pressure groups are focused on their own interest or causes + probably at the expense of the country as a whole (NIMBYs + HS2)
-not all members participate in a meaningful way ‘cheque-book members’ don’t contribute meaningfully to the political debate
-not all participation is desirable + undemocratic for groups to try to force their agenda on the rest of the country (BMA junior doctors strikes)
-wealthy insider groups enjoy a disproportionate influence over policy formulation and implementation + wealthy insider groups who can afford to hire professional lobbyists and explore the revolving door are likely to have a better change at presenting their evidence
Pluralist:
-power is widely and evenly distributed among many different groups
-enables all to have a free and fair chance of competing for influence over gov
Argument that the UK is pluralist:
-the UK has a huge number of pressure groups that openly compete for influence + no legal restrictions preventing citizens from forming pressure groups + competition between the groups means that no group can become too powerful
-there are many opportunities for pressure groups to influence the gov and parliament (MPs surgeries, PMBs, gov consultations)
-govs/parties can and do listen to pressure groups which are seemingly opposed to their ideological standpoint + David Cameron and Same Sex Marriage Act 2013
-parties and not always united on every issue, creating opportunities for pressure groups to exert influence within parties that are seemingly opposed to their aims
Elitist:
-where power is concentrated amongst a small number of groups
-enjoy an unfair level of influence over gov to the detriment of others
Argument that the UK is elitist?
-the competition between pressure groups is unfair: some pressure groups have advantages insider status, wealth, expertise, mass membership, aims aligned with gov
-Gov consultations tend to consult insiders: insider groups with established positions in influential policy + committees and issue networks have much greater chance of influencing the gov in a consultation
-Wealthy groups can exploit the revolving door to hire retired MPs or staff as advisers, or professional lobbying firms to make use of their contacts and expertise
-2021, David Cameron was revealed to have lobbied the gov on behalf of the investment bank Greensill Capital (exchanging informal texts to chancellor Rishi Sunak)
-gov favour participates: older, middle class people are more likely to vote and belong to pressure groups (seen in University tuition fees have increased, triple lock on pensions remained)
-govs favour groups who make donations and support their agenda
-regulation of lobbying and donations is too weak
