What determines pressure group success?

Question 1

Name 6 Reasons for Success

Answer 1

1) Insider status
2) Wealth
3) Large Membership
4) Organisation
5) Expertise
6) Celebrity endorsement

Question 2

Insider Status

Answer 2

• SUCCESS

The BMA continued to actively contribute to public health issues. The BMA’s “Policy in Relation to Smoking” was published in 1971. In response to the perceived threat of nuclear war in the early 1980s, the association reported on the possible medical and environmental effects of global conflict. The BMA’s first statement on AIDS was published in 1985 following the worldwide spread of the disease.

Question 3

Wealth

Answer 3

• SUCCESS

2012, the British Bankers’ Association paid lobbyists to
persuade ministers to cut corporation tax.

Question 4

Large Membership

Answer 4

• SUCCESS

Every year the RSPB do a Big Garden Birdwatch with the support of 500,000 members

Question 5

Organisation

Answer 5

• SUCCESS

Effective management and coordination will
allow a group to maximise its resources and target them effectively to help achieve its goals

Question 6

Expertise

Answer 6

• SUCCESS

2016, the AA provided evidence and statistics to persuade the government to increase the penalties for using a mobile phone while driving

Question 7

Celebrity endorsement

Answer 7

• SUCCESS

2009, Joanna Lumley and the Gurkha Justice Campaign secured equal rights for British and Commonwealth soldiers.

Question 8

5 Reasons for Failure

Answer 8

1) The goal contradicts a government policy
2) The government can resist pressure from the group
3) Countervailing forces.
4) The goals of the group act against popular opinion
5) The group alienates the public.

Question 9

The goal contradicts a government policy

Answer 9

• FAILURE

The Conservative government is determined to introduce new polices for a 7-day NHS, therefore the BMA campaign against the proposals has largely failed.

Question 10

The government can resist pressure from the group

Answer 10

• FAILURE

The Stop the War Coalition organised mass rallies and
activities to stop the invasion of Iraq in 2003. However, with a large majority and cross-party support in parliament, the Blair government was able to resist the pressure and ignore the group’s demands.

Question 11

Countervailing forces

Answer 11

• FAILURE

A pressure group may find itself campaigning against another, more powerful or more popular, pressure group which ‘wins’ the debate.

Like pro-life vs. pro-choice campaigns

Question 12

The goals of the group act against popular opinion

Answer 12

• FAILURE

A group is more likely to fail if it is campaigning for a cause that is not popular with the public, as governments will be more inclined to follow popular feelings on an issue.

Question 13

The group alienates the public.

Answer 13

• FAILURE

Violent groups such as ALF and PETA fail to achieve their goals because the public are opposed to their methods, even if they might support their causes. The same can be true of strike action if the public begins to blame the trade unions for the disruption caused.