Successfulness of Pressure Groups

Question 1

Describe the CBI as a pressure group

Answer 1

• The Confederation of British Industry is an insider and sectional pressure group
• Aims to promote the conditions in which all businesses in the UK can compete and prosper for the benefit of all
• Operates by lobbying
• Has successfully demonstrated to gov. how important an open approach to mobility from the EU is to the economy. Leading to the gov. suggesting a 2 year transition where free movement will continue with a registration movement

Question 2

Describe Greenpeace as a pressure group

Answer 2

• Outsider, cause pressure group
• Aims to defend the natural world from destruction
• Operates by investigating documents and exposing the cause of environmental destruction. Brings change by lobbying, consumer pressure and mobilising members of the public
• London made its ultra-low emissions 18 times bigger than before after Greenpeace proved thousands of children were exposed to illegal pollutions levels

Question 3

How does insider status make a pressure group successful?

Answer 3

• There is no certainty they will be successful but they are treated favourably.
• They are consulted by govs. and Parliament and their aims tend to be compatible with government
• e.g. Confederation of British Industry works closely with the gov to help achieve economic growth

Question 4

How does wealth make a pressure group successful?

Answer 4

Can be decisive. Large industries, trade unions and charities command large funds for campaigns to hire lobbyists who advise on best to conduct their campaign. But for trade unions, with an unsympathetic government efforts may be futile.
-e.g Unison is wealthy trade union with over 1.2 million memebers

Question 5

How does size make a pressure group successful?

Answer 5

-Those with mass membership are more likely to succeed as size often translates to finance and voting power.
- e.g Age UK represents 12 million pensioners. As older people have the highest percentage turnout in elections, pensioners are usually well looked after by successive govs.

Question 6

How does celebrity status make a pressure group successful?

Answer 6

• Endorsements from celebrities can replace huge amounts of finance and public support in terms of influence
• Jamie Oliver’s campaigns for good food in schools revolutionised attitudes to school meals, with govs. getting on board to support his campaigns

Question 7

Describe the strengths of pressure groups

Answer 7

• Enables individuals to participate in the political process between elections
• They reflect the system of pluralist democracy, which gives citizens a voice in the decision-making process beyond parties
• They counter-balance the tyranny of the majority by lobbying on behalf of minorities. e.g. Stonewall campaigning for equality for decades for gay people. In 2014, David Cameron legalised gay marriage
• Bring expert knowledge to gov’s attention on an important issue. Ministers and MPs are rarely experts on every issue
• Keep gov. on its toes, encourage gov. to be responsible and democratic. They limit gov power
• They promote debate and educate and inform the electorate which ensures healthy debate occurs

Question 8

Describe the weaknesses of pressure groups

Answer 8

• Can be divisive and selfish. One powerful group can dominate an issue
• Good at stopping things which others feel are needed e.g. Opposition to High Speed Two (HS2) raised issues on how it would affect house prices and spoilt the countryside. Others argue it is outweighed by the economic benefits.
• They’re aren’t accountable to the public as a whole even though their influence on a policy can be large as they can work with the gov behind. closed doors,
• Have reduced the power of Parliament and undermined its sovereignty by working closely with ministers and civils servants.
• Make the country difficult to manage. ‘Hyper-pluralism’ is the difficulty a government may have when it’s perplexed by a multitude of pressure groups blocking their actions