Pressure Groups

Question 1

Types of pressure groups

Answer 1

Insider
- Close ties with the government, NFU
Outsider
- Main use of direct action, Extinction Rebellion
Promotional
- Promote a particular cause they believe will benefit society
- Greenpeace UK
Interest
- Campaign for the interests of the members of the group, BMA

Question 2

The advantages and disadvantages of insider groups

Answer 2

Advantages
- Good communication with the government, informal lobbying
- Well funded
- Invited to give evidence in public bills

Disadvantages
- Cant criticise the government
- More funds not guarantee of success
- Outsider groups also invited to give evidence

Question 3

Insider Group: National Farmer Union

Answer 3

COVID-19 Response in Agriculture
- Worked with food and other departments to develop emergency food supply plans.
- Immediate access to policy making

Question 4

Evolution of pressure group from outsider to insider

Answer 4

Stonewall
- Campaigns for LGBTQ rights
- Outsider in 1980s
- Became insider 1997-2010s

Question 5

The advantages and disadvantages of outsider groups

Answer 5

Advantages
- Direct actions make the headlines
- Freedom to act as they want
- Some become insider

Disadvantages
- Making headlines not equal to public support
- Can be labled extremists
- Many never achieve insider status

Question 6

Ousider Group: Extinction Rebellion

Answer 6

2019 Broke into London City Airport
- Glued themselves to the floor
- Blocked terminals
- Got invited to give evidence before select committee on business and net zero

Question 7

Do pressure groups promote elitism or pluralism?

Answer 7

Elitism
- Groups with more resources more power
- Insider groups manipulate policies, NFU
- Many pressure groups are undemocratic in structure, dominated by elites, BMA

Pluralism
- Pressure groups benefit democracy
- All groups have equal opporutinities, Stonewall becoming insider
- Many pressure groups loosely structured

Question 8

Do pressure groups help or harm democracy?

Answer 8

Help democracy
- Participation
- Perform representative role, NFU represents farmers
- Promote public awareness, Greenpeace

Hinder democracy
- Large scale participation in campaigns is rare, Greenpeace
- Use of violent methods, XR
- One sided information, XR

Question 9

Factors in pressure group success

Answer 9

• Achievability of aims
• Insider status
• In tune with public opinion
• Large membership
• Financial resources
• Celebrity endorsement
• Media support
• Legal challenges

Question 10

Factors in pressure group failure

Answer 10

• Too extreme
• Lack of resources
• Association with violence and disorder
• Outsider status

Question 11

Other influences on parliament and government aside from pressure groups

Answer 11

• Corporations
• Lobbyists
• Think tanks
• Media