Success

Question 1

How does public opinion affect the success of a pressure group?

Answer 1

If the pressure group’s cause lines up with popular opinion or sparks public sympathy then it is more likely to be successful.

Question 2

Give an example of a pressure group that benefitted from popular support.

Answer 2

Save The Children experience lots of support as children’s welfare and rights are easy to garner sympathy for.

Question 3

What is a counter argument to the link between popular support and success?

Answer 3

Sometimes the government ignores a pressure group no matter how big its support is i.e. The Stop The War coalition in 2003.

Question 4

Which group of political theorists would argue that popular support does not affect the success of a pressure group?

Answer 4

Elitists

Question 5

In what three ways is having a large membership beneficial for pressure groups?

Answer 5

~It is difficult for the government to ignore a pressure group with a large membership as they represent potential voters

~Having more members allows for larger and more frequent campaigns to catch media attention

~Having a large paying membership helps the pressure group financially

Question 6

What is an example of a pressure group whose membership is so large the current government cannot ignore them?

Answer 6

The TUC - who stand on an opposing platform to the conservatives.

Question 7

What are two pieces of legislation passed in 2016 which highlight how the Conservatives have had to be sympathetic to the TUC?

Answer 7

The Living Wage Act and the Trade Unions Bill

Question 8

What is a counter argument to the link between membership size and success?

Answer 8

Large pressure groups do not always gain success I.e. The Countryside Alliance campaigning against the ban on fox hunting.

Question 9

How can the type of membership a pressure group has affect its success?

Answer 9

~A pressure group with a cheque book membership may not be able to easily mobilise its membership

~A pressure group made up of experts in a field may force the government to listen to it

Question 10

What is an example of a pressure group with a cheque book membership?

Answer 10

The RSPB

Question 11

What is an example of a pressure group which represents a majority of experts in its field?

Answer 11

The British Medical Association

Question 12

How does unity within a pressure group affect its success?

Answer 12

If a pressure group is clearly united in its approach it can campaign more effectively than a pressure group with different factions and stand points within it.

Question 13

What are two examples of pressure groups which contain different factions?

Answer 13

Greenpeace and thé CBI

Question 14

How does having a committed membership benefit a pressure group?

Answer 14

More regular action means that they can more easily raise their profile.

Question 15

What is an example of a pressure group with a small but committed membership?

Answer 15

The Animal Liberation Front

Question 16

How can the social background of a pressure group’s membership affect its success?

Answer 16

If a group’s membership is drawn from a disadvantaged or excluded section of the population, it can be less effective due to lack of knowledge or influence.

Question 17

What is an example of a pressure group which benefits from having a middle class membership?

Answer 17

The WWF as its membership brings in marketing skills, fundraising experience, legal expertise etc

Question 18

How can being wealthy affect a pressure group’s success?

Answer 18

Having more money allows a pressure group to:

~donate to parties

~buy office space

~employ professional lobbyists and PR etc

~commission research

~advertise effectively

~organise events

and more!

Question 19

How can having an insider status make a pressure group more successful?

Answer 19

They have more contact to decision makers and gain personal and institutional links.

Question 20

What is an example of a pressure group which has benefitted from its continued insider status?

Answer 20

The CBI. It is now thought that the party that wins an election needs to have them on side to govern effectively.

Question 21

What is an example of a pressure group whose outsider status has prevented it from having real influence?

Answer 21

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament who failed to sop the government renewing Trident in 2016.

Question 22

What is an example of an insider group who the government ignored despite their status?

Answer 22

The BMA who were unable to stop cuts to the NHS made by the 2010 coalition government.

Question 23

How can the political climate affect the success of a pressure group?

Answer 23

If a government is sympathetic to a pressure group’s cause, it may well find it easier to succeed in its aims. For example, the CBI enjoys more success under the Conservatives whereas the unions have more power under Labour.

Question 24

How is a pressure group’s ability to cause disruption linked to its success?

Answer 24

If a pressure group has the ability to cause major disruption, the government may be more sympathetic towards them to stop that from happening.

Question 25

What is an example of a pressure group using its ability to cause disruption to get its way?

Answer 25

In 2015 the BMA gained a huge pay rise for junior doctors after they threatened to strike and effectively bring the NHS to a standstill.

Question 26

How can the strength of opposition affect a pressure group’s success?

Answer 26

If a pressure group faces weak or no opposition then it can more effectively campaign

Question 27

What is an example of two opposing pressure groups who limit each others’ influence?

Answer 27

ASH and Forest

Question 28

How can having a celebrity endorsement help a pressure group?

Answer 28

It helps raise the profile for a campaign. For example, momentum started to build for the Justice for Gurkhas campaign after Joanna Lumley got onboard.