1.3 pressure groups and other influences Flashcards
(33 cards)
what are the functions of pressure groups?
- represent
- protect
- promote
- hold government accountable
- inform and influence government policy
- method of participation in politics
what are the similarities between political parties and pressure groups?
- both are membership based
- a desire to influence government
how are political parties and pressure groups different?
pressure groups do not wish to exercise power
what are single-issue parties?
only represent one issue
what are the 2 types of pressure groups?
casual
sectional
what are casual pressure groups?
-causal groups seek to promote a particular cause, to convert the ideas behind the cause into government action or parliamentary legislation
-they are altruistic, they serve the community, not just their memebers and supporters
-they focus on mobilising public opinion and putting pressure on government in that way
-they often use direct action
-they seek widespread support
Give an an example of a causal pressure group?
-Green peace
-friends of the earth
-liberty
-unlock democracy
-PETA
What is a sectional pressure group?
-sectional groups are self-interested, in that they hope to persue the interest’s specifically of their own membership or those whom they represent
-they are largely self interested in that they serve the interests of their own members and supporters
-although they seek public support, they tend to seek direct links with decision makers
-usually have a formal membership
What are some examples of sectional pressure groups?
-age UK
-British medical society
-Muslim council of Britain
-taxpayers allowance
What are the features of insider pressure groups?
-seem to become involved in the early stages of policy and law making
-they often are consulted by decion makers and sometimes offer expert advice
-some employ professional lobbyists whose job is to gain access to decision makers and high quality presentations of their case
-they may find themselves represented within a special committee and so have an especially privileged position. E, a memeber of the national farmers union advising government on these committees
-may be called to testify before parliamentary committees both select and legislative
What are the features of an outside pressure group?
-typical methods include public campaigning and using new media to reach large parts of population
-they seek to influence (not through direct lobbying) but by showing public interest is on their side
-they do not need to follow standards that the government will find acceptable so have greater choice in the methods they use e.g civil disobedience
-they are usually, promotional groups. Sectional groups with identifiable membership and support groups are a useful ally in policy making
e.g Extinction Rebellion: A climate activism group known for its disruptive protests aimed at drawing attention to environmental issues
What methods are used by pressure groups?
-media campaigns can be important to publicise concerns e.g Tv, press or radios
-lobbying is an activity commonly used by pressure groups to promote causes and interests e.g BLM
-some groups have restored to illegal methods often as a last resort e.greenpeace destroying GM crops to public’s the dangers
-access points when pressure groups use access points of where they are listen to e.g sit on policy committees
-some groups fake personal support from a memeber of parliament
-to make financial grants to political parties as a means of finding favour e. Trade unions funding the Labour Party
-groups may resort to direct action such as public demonstrations or strikes that are organised to cause mass disruption e.g public demonstration for Sarah evergreen
-on some occasions pressure groups can persue an issue through the courts by requesting a judicial review if it feels government has acted contradictory to the law
-public campaigning tends to mobilise public demonstrations of supirt to convince the government to listen to them e.g Marcus rashford and free school meals
What factors influence the success of pressure groups
-size of membership: the more supporters a group has, the more pressure it can place on decision makers
-finance: wealthy groups can afford expensive campaigns, employ lobbyists, sponsor political parties and purchase favourable publicity
-the attitude of government: groups are far more likely to achieve success if the government of the day is sympathetic to their cause/position
-the strategic position of a particular sectional group: a group that is seen as important to the economy or a key service can put greater pressure on the government, companies and individuals, e.g NHS workers
-public mood: the combination of public sentiment and strong campaigning can be successful in bringing an issue to the attention of decisions makers as politicians will be more likely to support the case
What are lobbyists?
-lobbying is the act of trying to persuade those in power to follow a particular course of action
- lobbyists are distinct organisations or individuals that sell expert knowledge of the political process to those who can afford to hire them.
- At a basic level lobbyists can give a ‘map’ or blueprint to clients to give them advice to follow
-at a more advanced level lobbyists will arrange events for their clients to have an opportunity to meet those in power
What are some examples of lobbyists
- the Cicero group
- Adam smith
- PLMR
What are think tanks
- they are considered public policy research organisations. Their main role is to carry out research and develop policy ideas that can be developed by political parties and governments
- think tanks are usually founded to research and develop ideas in specific areas, such as education, healthcare, social justcice or economy matters
Why are think tanks advantageous?
It means policies can be developed away from public scrutiny, it also saves the party time and recourses as it ‘delegates’ research
Give an example of a neutral think tank?
-Chatham house
-demos
Give an example of a left wing think tank?
-Fabian society
Give an example of a liberal think tank?
The centre for reform
How are corporations part of democracy?
- large corporations such as google and Starbucks are so big and influential that they qualify as a kind of sectional group in their own right
- they resist proposed legislation that might hinder their operations and seek to emphasise the positive role they play in the national economy
As they employ high numbers of people and account for a large proportion of economic activity, they have a strategically important place in the economy
Give an example of the success of these corporations in lobbying
-One example is successful resistance to calls for such companies to pay more in the UK taxes on their profits
-In a similar way the confectionary industry has resisted and toned down attempts by the government to reduce sugar contents of its products in an anti obesity drive
- In 2023, government officials met with oil and gas lobbyists an average of 1.4 times per working day, totaling at least 343 meetings throughout the year. This frequency of engagement coincided with significant policy developments, including the introduction of the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill, which proposed annual licensing of new oil and gas fields in the North Sea.
Give a case study of 2 pressure groups
-ASH
-the RMT union
What are the objectives of ASH
Its objectives include the spreading of knowledge about the harmful effects of tobacco use and pressing governments to adopt policies and laws to reduce tobacco use
