Pressure Groups (UK) 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.
E.g The BMA, the RMT union.
What are promotional groups? Exist to promote a value
Exist to promote a value, ideal or principle.
Membership open to all.
Members tend to be motivated by altruistic considerations.
e.g Greenpeace, RSPCA.
What are insider groups? Enjoy regular contact with the government.
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.
e.g Confederation of British Industry, National Farmers union.
What are outsider groups?
Do not 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.
The RMT union, Insulate Britain.
Why do people join pressure groups?
-Representation: may 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 benefits: Many people join because of the benefits rather than the group itself. AA- breakdown cover - it boosts membership but it means that members are not particularly passionate about the issues and 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 as pressure groups provide functional representation. This is important for minority groups who lack influence in the commons. Acts a s a check on the tyranny of the majority.
Participation: Means that people can get involved between elections. `provides a different for of participation for this who have become 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. The government is keen to work with pressure groups, as it is the pressure group that will implement the legislation.
Scrutiny: pressure groups have more time, resources and expertise to scrutinise bills and monitor the actions of the government.
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 Minsters (groups who can afford professional lobbyists) government consultations 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 - businesses tend to have strong links with the conservatives and trade unions tend to have strong link with labour.
Judicial branch: Legal challenges ( ultra vires) and legal interventions ( groups 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 endorsements, e-petitions. Tend to focus their efforts on mobilising public opinion.
Direct Action (legal): Strikes, sit-ins, boycotts.
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) successfully campaigned to end the ban on prisoners receiving books sent by family and friends.
How can wealth help a group succeed?
The group’s wealth enables it to afford lobbyists and/or advertising space.
In 2012 the British Bankers’ Association paid lobbyists to persuade ministers to cut corporation tax on banks’ overseas subsidiaries.
How can aims help a group succeed?
Aligned with government? 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 (outsider) has enjoyed success by campaigning on an employer by employer basis.
How can mass membership help a group succeed?
This means you 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.
In 2012, the RMT Union (outsider) organised a series of strikes to secure a bonus for members during the olympics.
How can expertise help a pressure group succeed?
A pressure group that has knowledge and expertise over a particular policy area is more likely to be listened to and respected by the government, civil servants and the public.
In 2016, the AA provided evidence to persuade the government to increase the penalties for using a mobile 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 to draw members to the group.
Joanna Lumley’s support for Gurkha Justice Campaign (outsider) in 2009 secured publicity fir the group which led to the Gurkha’s securing their right to settle in the UK.
Why do pressure groups fail?
Aims to contradict government policy.
Government 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 the government is determined to follow a policy then it is very difficult for a pressure group to persuade it to change course. The Conservative government of 2015-17 was determined to introduce a ‘7-day NHS’ so the BMA’s (insider/outsider) campaign against the proposal largely failed.
Why does government security mean that a pressure group will fail?
A strong government 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. However with a large majority and cross-party support in parliament, the Blair government 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.
The pro-smoking group FOREST (outsider) has failed to prevent restrictions on smoking in the UK, largely because ut has lost out to a range of opposition groups, including ASH.
Why do unpopular aims mean that a pressure group will fail?
A group is likely to fail if it is campaigning for a cause that is unpopular with the public as governments will be more inclined to follow popular feelings. The Coalition for Marriage (outsider) failed in their campaign against gat marriage because public opinion was largely in favour.
Why does using methods that alienate the public mean that a pressure group will fail?
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.
2021, insulate Britain faced widespread condemnation for blocking the M25.
