Pressure groups Flashcards by Ella Scott

define pressure group

a group of individuals who share a sectional interest or cause and come together in order to put pressure on policymakers at westminster and elsewhere. pressure groups are a key feature of a pluralist democracy

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pluralist democracy defintion

a system of government that encourages political participation and allows for free and fair competition between competing interests . such democracy is characterised by the presence of three feature :
1 - a diverse range of competing interests
2 - numerous access points
3 - the inability of any single group to exclude any other from the political process

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two ways of classifying pressure groups

sectional vs promotional

outsider vs insider

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sectional group

a group that wants to advance the interests of its members (often material / economic interests)

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examples of sectional pgs

unite - uks biggest trade union
NFU
AA
CBI
forest - protecting rights of smokers

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characteristics of sectional pg

closed membership
material concerns
benefit members only
aim to lobby their interests
include NIMBYs

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promotional group

a pressure group that seeks to advance the particular values, ideals and principles

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example of promotional pressure groups

greenpeace
ASH - anti smoking
liberty
UK uncut - against tax evasion
RSPCA
surfers against sewage

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characteristics of promotional pressure groups

open membership
moral concerns
benefit the greater society
non profit
insiders or outsiders
permanent

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insider group

a pressure group that enjoys regular, privileged and usually institutionalised access to government

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examples of insider groups

BMA - traditional advised gov on NHS reform issues (now sort of on the outside...)
NFU
CBI
RSPCA
ASH

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characteristics of insider groups

access to policy-makers, regularly consulted by gov
often low profile
mainstream goals
strong leadership
may sit on gov policy or agencies
may have links with parliamentary select committees must ensure members abide by gov decisions

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outsider groups

a pressure group that is either not consulted by government or consulted only irregularly and not usually at a senior level

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examples of outsider groups

greenpeace
plane stupid
unlock democracy
taxpayers alliance

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characteristics of outsider groups

no or limited access to policy-makers / no special links to gov
high profile
radical goals
strong grass roots

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functions of pressure groups

protect and advance the interests of a certain group (sectional eg unite or promotional eg RSPCA)
representation of a group (eg surfers by surfers against sewage)
education on the key issues (eg WWF publishes ‘living planet report’ on the state of biodiversity
help and inform gov on making decisions (NFU over foot and mouth outbreak)
mechanism for political expression and participation (eg Occupy movement in london nov 2011 - feb 2012)

how parties differ to pressure groups (4)

parties seek to hold government office or be part of government whereas pgs only want to influence power, not become it
pressure groups are narrow interest whereas parties must create a manifesto covering all areas of policy to be elected
parties are accountable whereas pgs are not
parties have formal organisations whereas pgs dont

how parties and pgs are similar (3)

some pressure groups put candidates up for election (eg ‘right to life’
some parties are narrow in their aims (UKIP)
pressure groups often transform themselves into parties eg green party and UKIP used to be pressure groups

5 objectives of pressure groups

influence decision making at all levels
sponsor new policy and legislation
set the agenda
mobilise public support thus putting pressure on decision makers
defend the rights of their members

6 ways pressure groups exert influence with examples

ministers and civil servants (lobbying) (NUT lobby the department of education, BMA lobby health interests)
parliament (again lobbying) (lobby more independently minded MPs to take up their cause, countryside alliance has lobbying offices in london and scotland to lobby their parliaments)
political parties (funding and donations, eg trade unions and labour)
the courts (2012 badger trust vs government over the cull)
direct action (occupy movement in london, junior doctors strike)
public opinion (media, petitions, leaflets by vote leave campaign, joanna lumbley on Gurkha campaign, CND march in feb 2016 had vanessa redgrave, corbyn, sturgeon, lian wood, caroline lucas)

pluralism belief explained

the belief that power is evenly and widely spread in society. many pressure groups can and do contribute to the political process and this is a positive thing. there is open access to information and dialogue and discourse flourishes

elitism belief explained

the belief that power us restricted and narrowly dispersed. few pressure groups contribute to the political process and this is s negative characteristic. access to information and the decision-making process is withheld from many.

evidence for pluralism (6)

numerous pressure groups
numerous access points
government listens to pressure groups and acts on their concerns
no pressure group is too powerful tat it excludes another from the political process
it is possible some pressure groups will succeed and other fail = competitive environment
becoming even easier for pressure groups to express their views (eg internet)

evidence for elitism

may be numerous pressure groups but few really matter and make a difference
information is still restricted (money makes a difference, eg countryside alliance has entire offices devoted to lobbying parliament)
government has its own agenda and will only entertain the interests of the groups that support this agenda
some pressure groups are a lot stronger than others so are able to exclude others from the political process
only a small elite of pressure groups will succeed
power is restricted and geld by the few and participation is limited

elitist quote and who said it

``` 'the flaw in the pluralist heaven is that the heavenly chorus sings with a strong upper class accent' Elmer Eric Schattschneider ```

8 factors that determine the success of a pressure group

``` resources insider status tactic sharing the same agenda as gov lack of opposition favourable circumstances celebrity envolvemnet strategic position ```

an example when this factor advanced the group's interest and an example of a group on the opposite end of the scale - resources

countryside alliance watering down fox hunting legislation in 2004 surfers against sewage do not have enough resources to match the big sewage (eg south west water) companies so are often not listened to by governement

an example when this factor advanced the group's interest and an example of a group on the opposite end of the scale - insider status

action on smoking and health a series of legislation to deter and reduce smoking forest is the outsider group who lost out

an example when this factor advanced the group's interest and an example of a group on the opposite end of the scale - sharing the same agenda as government

CBI welcomed by business friendly conservatives (and coalition) a commitment by government to reduce corporation tax on company profits by 14% over 4 years vs occupy movement in london (were against advancing business interests at the expense of the people)

an example when this factor advanced the group's interest | - tactics

``` save englands forests campaign huge e-petition celebrity endorsement demonstrations MP involvement cancelled gov plans to sell off large quantities of publicly owned forests in 2012 vs ? ```

an example when this factor advanced the group's interest and an example of a group on the opposite end of the scale - lack of opposition

make poverty history 1990s group experienced little opposition resulted in government commitment to raise foreign debt relief and increase oversea aid vs SPEAK (anti animal testing) against Pro-test over oxford uni animal research facility feb 2006 (Pro-Test won)

an example when this factor advanced the group's interest and an example of a group on the opposite end of the scale - favourable circumstances

ASH helped by lung cancer stats a ban on smoking in gov places in england and wales 2006 vs forest

an example when this factor advanced the group's interest and an example of a group on the opposite end of the scale - celebrity envolvement

Gurkha justice campaign joanna lumbley huge success and gov forced in 2009 into reverse its policies of not allowing gurkhas right to stay in britain

an example when this factor advanced the group's interest and an example of a group on the opposite end of the scale - strategic position

BBA (british bankers association) represents powerful bankers against banking reform = a dilution of plans to limit banks awards of excessive bonuses and high salaries 2011 vs occupy movement who didn't have such strong financial position

6 reasons pressure groups power has increased

increased number an range membership has far outstripped political parties (tories approx 150,000 members, people belong to on average 5 pgs) profile increase / media / internet public seeking redress of grievances head to pgs first achieve multiple, notable successes increasing number of access points (eg devolved assemblies)

6 reasons pressure gorup power has decreased

more pressure groups as splitting image, too many groups dilute the image (multiple eu groups 'grassroots out' 'vote leave' fighting between themselves) only parties hold real power (183,000 joined labour betrween ge and intternal election, more the=an the entir tory party) whilst greater media awareness, info overload government have final say more pgs have failed than have been successful

6 ways pgs enhance democracy

represent groups ignored by gov (forest) disperse power so no over mighty gov education help gov participation esp when traditional ways of participation (elections, joining a political party) are decreasing outlet for public grievances = 'tension release'

6 ways pgs do NOT enhance democracy

``` undermine authority of parliament politics of self -interest = NIMBYs hyperpluralism lack legitimacy and accountability civil disobedience threatens democracy elitist ```