Unit 1 - Pressure Groups Flashcards
What is a pressure group?
- An association of people that share certain political goals
- Pressure groups seek to either defend or further the interests of a particular section of society, or to promote a particular cause or issue
- Despite having political goals, pressure groups do not seek government power, but merely to influence the political system
- Pressure groups seek to mobilise as wide a level of support as possible to further their goals
Define sectional PGs:
These are pressure groups which represent a particular section of society, they are only interested in that group and have narrow goals
E.G. CBI, NUS
Promotional groups:
These are groups concerned with a cause or an issue, they are open to all members of society and are altruistic in that they believe heir cause or issue will benefit the community
E.G. Friends of the Earth, Unlock democracy, ASH
Insider groups:
Insider groups are those that have special connections with government and parliament, they have direction access to decision makers and are involved with the development of policy:
- Regularly consulted by politicians
- Often consulted by parliamentary committees
- Those concerned with Europe have direct access to the European Commission and European Parliament
- Regional Groups have access to devolved administrations
- Local Pressure Groups have access to local authorities
E.G. RSPCA, NSPCC
Outside Groups:
Outsider pressure groups do not have access to government or decision makers in general, they may choose this to retain their independence or by their nature. They tend to operate by mobilising public support and putting pressure on government:
- The seek to mobilise public support
- They often use direct action
- They use media campaigns
- They increasingly use the internet and social networks to build up support
- They also use petitions, often online
E.G. Greenpeace, ALF, Exit, Countryside Alliance
How do pressure groups and parties differ?
- Parties actively seek governmental power, pressure groups do not
- Parties must produce a broad manifesto, pressure groups have narrow goals
- Parties must be made accountable for their policies, pressure groups do not
- Parties normally have a formal organisation, pressure groups are often very loose organisations
Why is it difficult to compare PGs and parties?
- Pressure groups sometimes put up candidates for election for media exposure, e.g. Sam Akaki a political lobbyist for CND
- Some pressure groups develop a wide rage of policies similar to parties, e.g. TUs and he CBI
- The Greens and UKIP transformed into parties from PGs
- Some PGs and parties have strong links, TUs and Labour, or the Countryside Alliance and conservatives
What is the concept of pluralism?
- A situation where a variety of ideas and groups can flourish together
- Power within a political system is diffuse
- A variety of beliefs, cultures and ethnicities are broadly tolerated
- Recognition of the right of different groups to have influence and to receive equal tratment
What is elitism?
- There is a concentration of political, social and economic power within a few hands
- Implies that most groups in society are denied power or influence
How do pressure groups enhance democracy?
- They disperse power and influence very widely (especially mass membership groups)
- The ensure that many different groups are able to exert political influence
- The yelp to protect the interests of groups in society
- They balance the power of centralised government
How can pressure groups be associated elitism?
- Some powerful, wealthy, influential PGs may concentrate power in a few hands
- Influential insider groups may serve to concentrate power in the hands of the government
- Some pressure groups may be led by unaccountable elites
- Some groups may disporportionately empower a minority
Why are pressure groups becoming more important?
- Declining identification with parties
- Better informed electorate now more able to become involved in political issues
- Technology has made it more important to mount campaigns
- Number and membership of pressure groups has greatly increased
- Society more fragmented
- Growing affluence
What are the main pressure group methods?
- Lobbying ministers (CBI)
- Sitting on governmental committees (BMA supplies specialist medical information)
- Lobbying EU institutions (NFU)
- Lobbying councillors and officers (local conservation groups)
- Public demonstrations (StWC 2003)
- Media campaigns (Justice for Gurkhas)
- Civil disobedience (Greenpeace)
- Internet Campaigns (Friends of the Earth)
- Law Courts (TU’s)
Why are some PGs more successful?
- Resource (Countryside Alliance organised mass demonstrations in London which watered down Anti Fox Hunting Legislation in 2004)
- Insider Status (Action on Smoking and Health)
- Tactics (Save England’s Forests cancelled government plans to sell of Forest in 2010)
- Sharing Government Agenda (CBI, reduce corp tx by 14% over 4 years)
- Lack of Opposition (Make Poverty History meant raised commitments to foreign aid)
- Favourable Circumstances (Action on Smoking and Health rising lung cancer, ban on smoking in public places 2006)
- Celebrity Movement (Justice for Gurkhas led by Joanna Lumley, in 2009 the UK revised its policies denying Gurkhas the right to stay in the UK)
- Strategic Position (BBA watered down plans to limit excessive bonuses were watered down in 2011)
Give some PG examples
- BBA sectional insider
- Greenpeace promotional outsider
- Liberty promotional outsider
- Countryside Alliance sectional outsider
- Institute of Directors sectional insider
