Pressure groups

Question 1

Advantages of insider groups

Answer 1

• close proximity to gov, good communicatiom
• resources, money
• historic ties to party, trade unions and labour
• laws and regulations, consultation

Question 2

Disadvantages of insider groups

Answer 2

• proximity, policy entrapment so gets rid of independence
• resources, no guarantee of success
• historic ties, groups stay away so can engage with other parties
• laws, most affected so should not help out

Question 3

Advantages of outsider groups

Answer 3

• media, protests make headlines raise awareness
• direct action, just stop oil gluing themselves to roads, committment
• links to gov, freedom to act
• developing insider status, change in gov

Question 4

Disadvantages of outsider groups

Answer 4

• media, too much action can put people off
• direct action, leads to thought of extremeism
• links to gov, no link harder to get thinks passed
• insider status, many never achieve it

Question 5

Do pressure groups promote elitism or pluralism
- elitism

Answer 5

• powerful and well funded groups have access to gov others don’t
• claim monopoly of knowledge
• undemocratic structures
• big groups become too big to confront
• some arent represented, homeless people

Question 6

Do pressure groups promote elitism or pluralism
- pluralism

Answer 6

• social media made it easier to spread message
• XR non hierarchical structure, holocratic
• many groups have pressure groups that represent them
• checks that can limit power on gov, BMA went on strike

Question 7

Pressure groups help or harm democracy?
- help

Answer 7

• participation, stop the war, 1 million on march in London, BLM
• representation
• bring accountability
• more democratic structures, TU secret ballots
• public awareness, more informed
• specialist input

Question 8

Pressure groups help or harm democracy?
- harm

Answer 8

• chequebook memberships, National Trust and parking (5mil+)
• small and unrepresentative, shout loudest dont have opinion of majority
• no direct democratic mandate, lack legitimacy
• dominated by individuals with conflicting objectives, XR and Beyond politics
• information is one sided
• groups consulted argue their own case that benefit them