UK pressure groups

Question 1

Difference between sectional and cause groups, with examples.

Answer 1

Sectional Groups:

• Aim to protect the interest of their members
• Membership is normally exclusive - criteria for qualifying - - For example - Only qualified or trainee teachers can join the national Union of teachers.

Cause groups (AKA Promotional groups)

• Aim to promote issues and policies that do not exclusively benefit the groups members
  -For example, The Child Poverty Action Group campaigns on behalf on behalf of children and those in poverty

Question 2

Sectional / cause groups can be insiders… What are insider groups, and their types.

Answer 2

🔳Insider groups:

• Regularly consult with the Govt.
• Are able to work effectively ‘inside’ parliamentary procedures…
  - Such as contacting and meeting MP’s or appearing before Select
  Committees.

Three types of Insider groups:

*Core insiders
- Work closely with the government (broad range issues)
*Specialist insiders
- Consulted on particular where specialism is required
*Peripheral insiders
- Participate as insiders but have very little influence

Question 3

Sectional / cause groups can be insiders… What are insider groups, and their types.

Answer 3

🔲 Outsider groups:

• Do not regularly contact with the government, or directly influence parliament.
• Influence the public more than the government - Often by pulling publicity stunts.

Three types of outsider groups:

*Ideological outsiders
- Their views make it impossible to work with government.**
*Outsiders by necessity
- Lack the skills and knowledge to become an insider group**
*Potential insiders
- Groups lacking the necessary support and experience**

Question 4

Umbrella groups, and examples.

Answer 4

Umbrella groups?

Organisations that represent the interest of a number of different pressure groups, with similar interests or causes.

• Umbrella groups have huge membership numbers.
• For example:
  
  • COPA (committee of professional agricultural organisations)
  • COGECA (General confederation of agricultural cooperatives)
• Both representing over 30 million farmers across the EU, as well as 76 farmer organisations.
• Both have had huge success in their aims through lobbying.

Question 5

How has the expansion of the state effected pressure groups?

Answer 5

As the government has expanded by legislating on a wider range of issues, they require more expertise, which is one of the roles of certain pressure groups, such as insider groups.

Govt. also now receives more scrutiny, which pressure groups provide.

Question 6

Pre 1970’s Government and pressure groups relations

Answer 6

Govt. Focused on:
- Class structure / material inequality
- Competition between groups such as businesses and trade unions (Maggie T)

Corporatism:
Where government and interest group elites work together and make important decisions without the voters.

Question 7

Tripartism?

Answer 7

The form of corporatism that had three principle actors - Government / business leaders / trade unions.

Question 8

Example of corporatism / tripartism

Answer 8

An example of corporatism is CBI (conf. British industry) / TUC (trade union corp.) meeting in NO.10 for “Beers and sandwiches” for the 1961 - 1992 NEDC (National Econ. Development council), a planning forum made to work w/them.

Question 9

Post 1970’s Government and pressure groups relations

Answer 9

Govt. Focuses on:

• Provision of services
• Economic affluence, non material values

Politics of identity:
- Political organisations that go beyond class to include many other
social groups, such as race, gender etc
- P.O.I was not accepted by either parties, so pressure group
membership has grown over time while party membership has
declined.

Question 10

Political parties and pressure groups compete for…

Answer 10

• Resources
• Members
• Influence

Question 11

Advancements in education, tech and media allows for PG to increase influence:

Answer 11

• Advances in media has made It easier for pressure groups to broadcast direct action, + other messages, as well as making it more attractive.
• Advances in education has made people more informed about the world around them, and they are likely to not want to leave important decisions to elected delegates.
• The growth of the internet has made it easier for pressure groups to form and communicate (e.g 38 degrees).

Question 12

How have Constitutional reforms allowed for more access points?

Answer 12

• EU union, before Brexit -
• EU commission, who propose legislation is the main target for lobbying
• Council of the eu union / EU parliament have to vote on the legislation
• Judicial review if laws undermine human rights (Reformed since 1998) -
• Devolved parliaments and assemblies (Reformed since 1998 / 1989) -

Question 13

How in recent times have PGs been limited by the government?

Answer 13

2014 “Gagging” Law

Cut the amount that groups could spend influencing elections (from September to May by around 60%) for each constituency.

This was done to “level the playing field” between rich and poor groups, however it was more likely done to prevent PG to inform voters on where candidates stand on issues argued for by PGs.

Question 14

Three changes over time between govt. and pressure group relationship.

Answer 14

pre 1970’s corporatism

post 1970’s POI

Post 2000’s limits on pressure groups due to competition

Question 15

Forms of representation

Answer 15

Territorial representation

Functional representation

Question 16

Territorial representation

Answer 16

Territorial representation is the representation of an area - this can be seen in elections when mp’s try to represent their constituency.

However, territorial representation can lead to tyranny of the majority, as it supports:
- Majority groups
- Popular groups
- Salient issues - issues that are popular at the time.
- Wealthy groups

But most importantly,
NIMBYISM.
E.g. Heathrow third runway / HS2

Question 17

Functional representation

Answer 17

Pressure groups created to represent a certain groups interests and causes. This is essential for:

• Minority groups
• Unpopular causes that don’t get talked about by big parties
• Overlooked issues
• Vulnerable groups that need pressure groups to speak on their behalf.

Question 18

How can representation in general be bad?

Answer 18

When it goes against national interest.

NIMBYism through territorial representation,
Or minority groups becoming of fixation over other issues, or hyper-pluralism.

E.g. NHS workers striking over budget cuts, however national interest is to reduce the govt. budget deficit.

Question 19

What is hyper-pluralism?

Answer 19

Nothing gets done:

• As there is a large amount of pressure groups in the UK, it may become hard for the government to operate as there are pressure groups trying to restrict their function, such as the NIMBY’s.
• Money can be wasted focused on fighting objecting pressure groups.

Question 20

How do pressure groups increase democracy?

Answer 20

The increase of Pressure group membership help political participation.

Pressure groups increase accountability

Pressure group representation of minority groups = pluraslim

Educate the public

Question 21

How can pressure groups restrict democracy?

Answer 21

A pressure group without internal democracy can hurt democracy.

Many pressure groups do not have any form of internal democracy:
- Unelected leaders make important decisions.
- Very few members are actively involved.
This can undermine the democracy of the UK, as influential pressure groups that can change policies are not being democratically controlled.

+ Elitist theory

Question 22

What is “pluralist democracy”?

Answer 22

Pluralist democracy =
Open and fair competition between all political parties and pressure groups.

This allows for no pressure group to become too powerful.

Pluralist democracy is based on theories such as:
* Pluralist theory
- Power is fragmented and dispersed
- Pressure groups compete with equal opportunity to influence.

Question 23

Elitist theory

Answer 23

Pressure groups actually have little to do with protecting minority interests.
Instead, just reinforce existing inequality

Due to:

1) Wealthy and connected individuals in pressure groups

2) Have the resources and status to more effectively lobby

3) Making it easier to protect their interests and status as wealthy / connected.

Remember: financial and human resources **can help lobby access points.

Question 24

What is the revolving door theory?

Answer 24

The movement of retired MP’s and Civil servants into jobs of pressure groups as lobbyists.
Allowing for increased influence on MP’s who they previously worked with.

Question 25

6 Factors affecting success (FAMMSS)

Answer 25

1) Financial / Human resources
2) Aims
3) Methods
4) Membership
5) Status
6) Specialism

Question 26

How PG aims affect success, with example

Answer 26

Some groups may have more sympathetic aims that public like.

Some groups aims may be more favourable or less favourable for the government if achieved.

WWF (outsider) - more about educating public, then achieving legislation. + public sympathy

Question 27

How PG financial / human resources affect success, with example

Answer 27

Groups that have the backing and membership of wealthy financiers have more legitimacy.

Use their finance to have access to pressure group resources:
- The ability to hire professional lobbyists + lawyers
- Open offices near action points (e.g. near Westminster)
- Donation to political parties, which can gain governmental favour
- Become a hard to ignore business that employ thousands and
influence the economy

Example: CBI (conf. British industry)

Question 28

How PG membership affect success, with example

Answer 28

• The type of member can also play a factor in the overall success.
  
  • For instance:
  • Groups representing the elderly have more members who will
    vote in an election
  • Compared to a pressure group for students
  • Allowing them to hold the government accountable to have
    success in their aims

Example: Age UK, core insider

Question 29

How PG methods affect success, with example

Answer 29

Direct vs indirect action

Different methods have larger significance in achieving aims, such as petitions compared to demonstrations, with the former being presented to government while the other attracts media attention.

For example:
- Feb 2003 STWC (STOP THE WAR coalition) protest in prevention of Iraq war attended by 1 million.
- Failed to complete aim.
- Direct action can have more long term, indirect success.
- Legal / illegal

Question 30

How PG status can affect success, with example

Answer 30

• Outsider groups do not have input of legislation.
  
  • This is either due to their aims not alining with the government
  • Or they do not want to pass legislation
  • Or the govt. deems their methods as unruly
  • e.g. Greenpeace
• Insider groups lobby to have their legislation passed.
  
  • They can also work with the government
  • Some pressure groups act as expert advisers on particular
    topics
  • e.g. BMA
  • This is in conjunction with their specialism.

Question 31

How can PG specialism affect their success, with example

Answer 31

• some pressure groups act as expert advisers on particular topics
• This means that they can become necessary to government operation
• Their input is required, meaning that they are successful in this way.
  E.g. BMA

Question 32

PG Case study - PETA, typology, successes, failures.

Answer 32

• People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
• PETA is a cause group / Promotional group.
• PETA is an outsider group, Specifically, Ideological Outsiders.

Successes:
United States 1981 Silver Spring monkey cases - stopping monkey testing

Failures:
* ‘Mercy Killings’ - PETA reportedly killed 72% of animals they took
into their shelters.
* Pet assassinations - There have been numerous times when PETA
have been accused of stealing peoples pets and then putting
them down without cause.
* Insensitive campaigns - PETA purposely causing controversy by
creating senseless and insensitive campaigns in order to gain
publicity.

Question 33

PG Case study - Oxfam

Answer 33

Core Insider group.
Methods include:
- Lobbying
- Petitioning
- Public pamphlets
What they do:
Oxfam is a British-founded confederation of 21 independent charitable organisations focusing on the alleviation of global poverty,

Question 34

PG Case study - 🚜National Farm Union:

Answer 34

• Founded in 1908
• Aim to promote farming / champion British agriculture and horticulture

Status?

• Specialist Insider group - officers in both Westminster / Brussels

Methods:

• Social media
• Teamed with over 60 environmental / animal / groups
• Wrote letters to Boris Johnson over Brexit / other issues.

Question 35

PG Case study - AA

Answer 35

• Sectional group (provides a service)
• Checkbook members
• 2 million globally
• Members don’t care about aims.