Pressure Groups Flashcards
What can pressure groups be?
- National
- Local
- Transient (lasts for a short time)
- Well known
How do pressure groups work?
They work together to secure the introduction, prevention and continuation or abolition of whatever measures they feel strongly about
How many organisations are recognised by the Directory of British Association and what’s the issue with this?
34,000 organisations however it’s not reliable
What did the Liberal French aristocrat and politician, Alexis De Tocqueville remark about americans? (1830s)
He was impressed by the ways in which “Americans of all ages, all conditions and all dispositions constant form associations.” which allowed America to be a “powerful instrument of action.”
Associative tendency
Tend to group together
-
Civil Society
- Non- governmental organisation (trade/development)
- Faith based
- Registered charities
- Community groups
Why has there been a rise in pressure groups?
- Growth in the extent and scope of government activity in second half of 21st century
- Government more involved in sectors such as education and health and they wish for a better quality of life
- Growing complexity and specialism of modern life
- People may belong to subgroups
- Growing interest in single issue pressure groups
- Multi-cultural society
- Emergence of new issues and onset of materialism
- Improvement in communication
What indicates to us that your society is multicultural?
- British Sikh Federation
- British Hindus
- Muslim council of Britain
What are the similarities regarding pressure groups and political parties?
- Vehicle whereby opinions can be expressed
- Outlet of political participation
- Role in the workings of the government
- Provide information
How many trade unions are affiliated with the labour party and name a few examples?
14
- NUM (national union for mineworkers)
- UNITE (for general workers in the public or private sectors)
- USDAW (retail, distributive and related industries)
Can there be pressure groups within a party and if so, give examples?
- Tory Reform Group
Promote the value of one nation conservatism which was established in 1975 - Labour tribune MPs
Centre left of parliamentary Labour Party. They wish to engage with wide labour movement across the UK.
What do we mean by think tanks may act alongside political parties?
Members will share the broad outlook of the party but act independently and seek to have an impact on general thrusts of public policy
Who moderates the left and right parties?
Left - Institute for Public Policy Research
Right- Centre for policy research
How do pressure groups differ from political office?
- They are not trying to gain political office
- do not contest in election
- when they do, they try to gain publicity
- Goals narrower
- less structured than pressure groups (core groups provide direction for everyone else)
- Activities rise at grass root level before being noticed
Women’s movement
Various individuals and groups concerned with advancing women
1903- Suffragettes
Since 1960s, what new social movements have emerged?
- New ways of organising political activity
- Less willing to be absorbed into the political system
- Fundamental change to status quo/dominant value in society
Features of a sectional group
- Exclusive membership
- Limited to a section of society whose interest they serve
- Primarily self interested which seek selective benefits and offer services to their members
- Business interest amongst the most well known
What is an example of umbrella/peak group?
Confederation of British Industry (CBI)
Trade Union Congress (TUC)
British Retail Consortium (11,000 stores)
Why are trade union sectional groups?
Exist to represent the interests of organised working people by defending them
What department is responsible for publishing statistics on membership of trade unions and what was the membership in 2015?
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
6.5 million as opposed to the 2M
Cause group
- inclusive membership
- wish to establish wide base of membership
- Shorter life span
Why are sectional groups more successful than cause groups?
- better organised
- better resourced
- they have more staff
- they have more funding
- more access to government
What are hybrid groups and what is an example?
Are pressure groups that exhibit characteristics of both Sectional and Promotional pressure groups.
They aim to promote values they believe are in the interest of the wider community AND seek better outcomes for one section of society.
Example: Royal association for disability and rehabilitation
What are issues with classifying groups by aims?
- Many groups campaign for a cause as well as representing interests of their members
- Division between attitude/political groups far from clear cut
Who came up with insider/outsider typology?
Wyn Grant
Outsider groups
Groups that work outside of the political loop.
Why did Wyn Grant come up with the insider and outsider typology?
He found the sectional and cause unsatisfactory due to the fact that it assumes that sectional groups are more powerful than cause groups whereas Grant prefers to base it on relationship.
What were the key issues with Wyn Grant’s typology?
- whether any particular group wanted to gain acceptance by government
- if they do want acceptance, whether or not they achieve that status
- Distinction is unfortunately not clear cut (Friends of Earth remain in dialogue with government but they maintain direct action)
- Distinctions less valid today as new forms of policy on the rise
What defines pressure group success?
Gain access to the centre of decision-making and exert influence over development of policy as well as ability to exploit opportunities of influence available to them
What does pressure group success depend upon?
- resources available
- get message to decision makers @ whitehall
- political circumstances
- climate of the time they operate in
Example of resources that people will have that will affect how they operate?
- Membership
- Leadership
- Staffing
- Esteem
- Funding
- Organisation
- Public support
- Ability to make strategic alliance
Membership
- Density of membership
- Representative?
- Size of activist base
Leadership/Staffing
- Charismatic, Creative and Energetic leaders
- Efficient staff tend to have more success
Esteem
- Higher status for groups such as BMA
- Groups such as NACRO (ex-offenders) and Release (drug addicts) have less appeal
Funding
- Organise externally and internally which influences powers externally
- Allows expenditure on quality leadership, creation of a favourable image and staff
Organisation
- Sectional groups have more staffing and office space but cause groups may not be as well off
- There can be small, highly centralised and professional command structure (RSPB)
Public support
- Popular mood of the government more like to have a considerable advantage and government sensitive to the views of electorate especially near election time
Ability to make strategic alliance
Supplement own alliance by forming alliances to oppose government
- Identity cards
Why may those in whitehall rely on insider groups?
Matters involving technical understanding and to implement the policy may be reliant on the advice and assistance of well-resourced groups. They may also need it for detailed assistance in drafting legislation from well-informed groups
British Medical Association
Voluntary association with 130,000 members
- 80% practising doctors
Political circumstances and climate
Attitudes of ministers crucial to prospects of groups and success. Government response may be affected by the size of Parliamentary majority
What happened in 1970s?
Labour pressure groups between 1974-1979 after Thatcherism found it easy to pass legislation
Baggott (2000)
Describes “an anti-group philosophy” within government, as illustrated by Blair observation relating to anti-GM campaigns “we should resist tyranny of pressure groups.”
Timing
Government more willing to make tough decisions and ride roughshod over opposition to their policies after a policy of election victory
Connections with those in the economy
Groups that once held a powerful position in economy find opinions moved against them
= Miners
Strong gaining position in 1970s when oil supplies in short demand following quintupling of prices by the OPEC countries. Decades later when the Thatcher government confronted them in the Mind strike of 1984-85 ministers were prepared to find oil stocks were ample
What are the four theories of pressure group activity?
- Pluralist theory
- Corporatist approach
- New Right approach
- Marxist
Why do we have four theories on pressure group?
Helps us to understand how peak organisation such as those representing employers and employees perform a role in the government alongside the state
Who came up with the pluralist theory?
David Truman
US
1951
How do groups that adopt pluralist theory benefit?
- Reflection: concerns reflected those of ordinary people who were entitled to express their views
- Information: informed views and special expertise
- Balance: Minority voices to become clearly advanced which creates balance between minority and majority
- Representation: Heterogenous population and all views heard
- Stop disproportionate representation:
Pluralist Theory
- power should be shared in society and diversity should be encouraged
- no barriers to the formation of groups and no single group should monopolise political resource
- Access to political system open to everyone and case can be put forward without difficulty
- Relied upon by the government in making/carrying out policies but they have sectional interest and are granted no special favours
What did R.Hague and M.Harrop (Palgrave, 2004) say about politics?
Politics is seen as “a competition between a multitude of freely organised interest groups…as new interests emerge groups form to represent them. In pluralism, politics is a competitive market with few barriers to entry”
Corporatist Approach
Corporatism means bringing of organised interests into the process of the government
- Close emphasis on the close links which exist between certain types of groups and the state in industrialised countries (manufacturing groups have access to and are able to shape and implement policy)
What did Britain wish to achieve agreement between in 1960s//1970s?
- Which governments actually survived this?
sought to achieve agreement between employers and employees on prices and income policies
- 1966-70 Wilson (Labour)
- 1970-74 Heath (Conservative)
- 1974-79 Wilson/Callaghan (Labour)
What have critics argued about corporatism?
Unhealthy and a threat to representative democracy. They do not like the way that decisions are made behind closed doors and prefer an opening governing arrangement and view parliament as somewhere whereby the allocation of national resources should be delocated and resources.
What did Hague and Harrop say about pluralist society vs corportist?
Pluralist see society dominating the state; corporatist view the state as leading society
What is the New Right Approach, which came around late 1970s and 1980s?
- Supporters questioned the value of groups in democratic life
- Pressure groups are sectional groups with primacy concerns regarding own interests being advanced rather than anything else
- dominance of producer interests (employers and employees)
- easy access to government
- New Right Approach doubts whether groups were a good influence. They distort roles of the legislature and the Executive. Their influence over both branches of government makes it difficult to resist demands of consulted groups and act in general good.
Marxist Approach (radical left)
- Society is being exercised by the ruling economic group that makes decisions to serve its own interests and owners of productive wealth, control political power and Marxists draw attention to unequal distribution of power between employers and employees
Examples of points of access
- Executive (ministers and civil servants)
- Legislature (Mps individually and as a member of their party)
- Public opinion/media
Where do sectional groups tend to focus?
Where power lies (Whitehall) where key decisions are made in government departments as well as close contact in Westminster. Unions will have a close link with MPs
Cause groups have spasmodic support, what does this mean?
Infrequent contact with the people in power and little influence in Whitehall
What are Higher Civil Servant?
Decisions on many routines, technical and less important decision. Major issues they offer advice to secretary of state (political head of government department)
What do higher civil servants do?
- Technical information and advice
- Assist in carrying out policy
- Learn about the governments and current thinking and hope to influence government’s current thinking and hope to influence decision making and get bills drawn up in line with recommendations
What can consultation be?
Statutory: Particular measure laying down interests. Ministers must oblige
Discretionary
How can pressure groups guarantee further consultation?
Ministers must feel that:
- high quality, specialist advice available
- leaderships of the group is representative of its members
- organisation has a wide support within the sector that it operates
Why might MPs ignore the groups wishes?
Strong system of party discipline
What did Michael Rusk’s study (1990) conclude?
75% claimed to be in regular contact with MPs and more than 1/2 maintained contact with Lords
What has the trend been since 1980s?
To lobby the legislature
What may elected members put together?
Private Members Bill. MPs with high annual ballots in each session of parliament find themselves contacted by campaigners who hope to persuade them to introduce a measure which related to their cause
What do groups aim to achieve by lobbying parliament?
- Amend or sponsor legislation favourable to them
- Influence the climate of discussion on relevant issues of public interest and limit potential damage to their own
- Gain parliamentary backing for a cause that may have been raised first outside the chamber
What do pressure groups achieve by lobbying HOL?
House of Lords is the upper chamber and plays a larger role in scrutinising the government
What is an example of HOL scrutinising the government?
Controversial bills involving civil liberties(legislation on freedom & information, detention of alleged terrorists, asylum seekers and ID cards)
Pressure groups who have appealed to the public?
- Aims 4 Freedom + Enterprise
An established organisation that crusades against nationalisation and employs background campaigns to create a favourable impression - Snowdrop campaign (1996-97)
- Greenham Common anti-cruise missile protest
- M3 extension @ Twyford
- Newbury bypass
What bodies have made use of courts?
Equal Opportunities Commission’s
Strived to promote equality in the workplace.
Greenpeace
In 2013, Greenpeace took the government to court and July 2013, a vote took place to fix Europe’s broken fishing system and was to restore fish stocks, support sustainable fishermen and create new jobs in coastal economies.
Countryside Alliance
Delay the implementation of the ban on fox hunting claiming that it was a denial of members rights under european convention
Local Level
They will undertake consultative exercises whereby they create forums and joint committees or hold public meetings
Devolved Level (Since 1999)
Scottish pressure groups have started to lobby the Scottish Parliament and executive rather than westminster
Pressure group @ European level
Concerned with trade and overseas development and they may be in contact with United Nations, UN related bodies such as World Bank G8
- used by: Friends of Earth, Greenpeace and British Veterinary Association and RSPCA
What are our laws derived from?
Regulations and directives of the European commission’s. For example, the single market was created after Single European Act (1986)
1- Avenue for groups that wish to engage with machinery
- Placing pressure on the government
Influence the stance adopted by their governments in the Council of ministers to make their views known on the implementation of EU decisions.
2- Avenue for groups that wish to engage with machinery
- Operating through Euro Groups
Exert pressure via European level federation of national group. For example TUC is a member of ETUC.
3- Avenue for groups that wish to engage with machinery
- Direct Lobbying
Direct contact with union institutions. Members working in the EU - Working through MEPs
- Approaching commissioners formally and informally
- Letters/phoning
Lobbyist can have contact with senior officials in various departments, examples of departments?
- British Treasury
- Department of Trade and Industry
Pressure Groups allow ministers and civil servants to obtain view of members of the group, what does this mean?
Develop plans for legislation and monitor the success of measures that have passed in law
What else do pressure groups give to civil ministers and civil servants?
- Get technical information and advice
- Obtain assistance in carrying out policy
- Ministers can use the means of passing information to the people who will be most interested
They soon become important avenues for communication between government and members of affected interests
Corporatism and Tripartism in practice
Business groups tend to be in regular contact with the government as they are massive players in terms of economy
1960s//1970s
Almost a trend for leading bodies of organisations to work with representatives of government in management of economy.
- Sides contributed views and ministers agreed about what the economy could afford by way of price rise and wage increase. Government more consensual
What is the success criteria for pressure groups?
The most popular stance has been that the least noise equals most success meaning that those who work behind the scenes have more chance of success and noise does not equate to success.
What are the issues with campaign?
Expensive, Time-consuming, Unpredictable result
Insider group and media
- They will have funding for media and convey their work and achievement
Baggott (1995)
Surfers against sewage
“highlighting the pollution of beaches/coastal waters by attracting media attention.”
- Strong visuals with activists clad in wetsuits and gas masks surfing in sewage. Hidden waters and riding in brown inflatable dinghies
- attracted media attention which resulted in a television documentary about the sewage pollution which examined the activities of a group
Technology and how has it helped pressure groups?
- Mass mailing
- Targeting those with similar interests
- Radio stations
Grant (2000)
Refers to interesting example of the popular BB4 serial, The archers whose writers and producers have regularly been the object of campaigners concerns about allege moral decline and farming practices in the fictional village. Media-watch UK maintains pressure on television authorities to explain their policies on standards of taste and decency (regulates bad language)
How can we define direct action?
Allude any attempt to coerce those in power/authority to change a certain viewpoint. Action may be passive (obstruction/trespass) or violent (threatening/breaking/ furniture)
- Action taken outside the constitutional and legal framework
Baggott’s words
When a group takes matters into own hands, rather than relying on an established methods of decision-making to resolve a problem
- Can be militant without being violent. If violence is used, it is more likely to be against a property as opposed to a person
Why is direct action so popular?
- Publicity: local and national
- Growing mindset/belief that protest is an effective means of getting concerns placed on national agenda
- 1980s huge increase in interest and concern for the environment. Triggered mass activity (local,national and international) which is informal and has resorted to less traditional means of campaigning
Why is direct action so popular?
pt.2
- Conservative years (1979- 97) limited opportunities for consultation and previously powerful groups such as trade unions were distanced
- Disillusion developed as the part of campaigners with regards to Labour’s performance. When Labour arrived in office (1997) there was an expectation for the “progressive government” however it failed to carry out those changes which lead to rise of direct action
- Technology has made direct action easier
Twyford Campaigner
Imprisoned for protesting @ Twyford Down claims that sometimes when shady avenues of bureaucracy have been exhausted, there is no choice but to throw yourself in front of the differ
Peter Melchett
Prominent Greenpeace
Direct action simplifies complex issues and demands straight answers.
- requires secrecy which leads to undemocratic decision making
- successful leads towards violent and authoritarian new elite
Des Wilson
British promotional group
Direct action needs to be used sparingly as the more it is used, the less effective it becomes. Should be used to reflect total frustration @ obstinacy and unfairness rather than impression/self indulgent expression of impatience of protesters
What are the common features/factors in the outlook and behaviour of recent popular movements?
- Emerge abruptly: rapid increase in petrol prices
- Based on issues which arouse emotional response: fuelled by emotional response tabloid
- Use of direct action: draw attention to their demands
- Get a swift if carefully managed govt. response: popular movements of lobbying relying on their implied threat that government avils lose vote in the next election
Reasons for pressure groups being positive?
- Mobilise the interests and encourage the participation of many people who would otherwise remain uninvolved in political process
- Illustrate that ordinary people can have an impact on government and force those who govern to be responsive to public concern
Reasons for pressure groups being negative?
- Coercive method: implied threat threat if their grievances aren’t addressed there will be serious consequences to those in authority, mass punishment at ballot box
Pressure groups benefit democracy
- allow people to bond together and express their views
- act as a defence for minority interests, especially with those connected with parties not in government
- encourage wider participation in public life and decision-making process
- Serve as better links between the people and those who govern them than political parties
- act as a valuable check on those who exercise political power
- provide valuable knowledge to government departments based upon their specialist knowledge of field
Pressure groups do not benefit democracy
- Sectional interests
- better resourced and organised are at an advantage
- Too much goes on in secrecy
- Groups are often oligarchic in tendency, their leadership is unrepresentative of the views of membership
- Threatening methods
- Slows down decision making and acts as a barrier to social progress
R.Baggot (1995)
Modern democracy would not exist without pressure groups. Channel of communication therefore legitimate as the ballot box
M. Dobbs (1995)
Militant pressure groups rush to judgement exaggerating their case. They undermine both balanced decision-making and parliamentary democracy.
