pressure groups

Question 1

What are isnider groups?

Answer 1

regularly consulted by government departments.
high impact on policy outcomes, implementation and political support.

Question 2

What are the different type of insider groups?

Answer 2

prisoners-dependent on government in some way.
low profile- concentrating on behind the scene pressure
high profile- consciously using media as well
core insiders- strong 2 way relationship w policy-makers over broad range of issues
specialist insiders- insider status w more narrow area of expertise
peripheral insiders- insider status but rarely needed by gov due yo nature of cause.

Question 3

What is the ERT?

Answer 3

influential advocacy group in EU consisting of some 50 European industrials leaders, work both at national and European level.
they recommend reports, enlarge size of EU, establishment of G8

Question 4

What is the CBI?

Answer 4

speaks for 190,00 businesses in Britain, employ 7 million people, about 1/3 of UK private sector-employee workforce. Motto-“Voice of business
lobbied for reduction in corporate tax, Opposed Scottish independence, opposed increase in minimum wage

Question 5

What are think tanks?

Answer 5

performs research concerning topics like social policy, culture etc.
most policy institutes are non-profit some countries provide with tax exempt status. Others are funed by the government, businesses etc.

Question 6

What is the Adam Smith institute?

Answer 6

thin tank, registered charity status, specialises in research in education
reports have led to- academy schools, national curriculum, GCSE, league tables etc

Question 7

What are the pluralism positive functions of the pressure groups?

Answer 7

represent minorities who cannot represent themselves, Act as a check and balance to power of executive, play important role in implementing changes to public policy, Groups raise issues that political parties wont touch because of their sensitivity.

Question 8

What are the elitism functions of the pressure groups?

Answer 8

sometimes resort to violent tactics, cost of policing and general cost, to much goes on in secret w lobbying carried out behind closed doors, slow down decision making pricces

Question 9

Explain the extinction rebellion pressure group?

Answer 9

issue-action to stop climate change, tactics- blocking roads, motorways etc, laws changed- Michael Gove agreed to declare climate change emergency, controversy’s- tactics alienate potential allies, M/C activism, cost of policing

Question 10

Explain the fathers for justice pressure group?

Answer 10

issue-access rights for divorced fathers, tactics- publicity stunts, dressed up as superheroes, powder attack on Blair during PMQ, planned to kidnaps Blair’s 5 year old son, laws changed- limited change, some evidence of more equal treatment, controversy’s- groups divided into “Splinter movements”

Question 11

What else is relevant about the F4J pressure group?

Answer 11

founder dissolved group due to growing radicalism, media coverage shifted from amusement to criticism, outsider group who “Make more noise than change”

Question 12

Explain the green peace pressure group?

Answer 12

issue- prevent shell oil from dumping disuses oil depot “Brent spa” in Atlantic ocean, tactics- illegally occupying Brent spar at sea organizing boycotts of shell, laws changed- shell agreed x to dispose, controversy’s- disruption of economic activity, cost shell 40 mill, mislead public by amount of oil residue left.

Question 13

Explain the occupy pressure group?

Answer 13

issue-anti capitalist/globalisation, tactics- occupy high profile places around world, wall street, Sheff cathedral etc, laws changed-N/A, controversy’s- allegations of SA w-in campaign, violent police tactics-pepper spray in US, Movement faded quickly from public conscious “More noise than impact”

Question 14

Explain the anonymous pressure group?

Answer 14

issue-same as Occupy, attack on global capital corporations, tactics- “hacktivism”, installing malware, data breaches, laws changed-N/A, controversy’s-student/teen activism, some sentenced to long prison sentences, Closed down by FBI counter campaign.

Question 15

How is ALF seen to be an outsider group?

Answer 15

direct action tactics, resources of state applied against it, targeting groups other than govt to achieve goas, economic pressures- acts of economic sabotageH

Question 16

How is Huntington’s life science seen to be an insider group?

Answer 16

resources of state allied against opponent, police protection, restraining orders lose relationship w governing party, British labour party shareholder, govt policy on all sides remains in support of medical experimentation of animals

Question 17

What was the issue of the Anti-poll tax league pressure group?

Answer 17

campaign against Thatcher’s govt to introduce poll tax to replace previous taxation system, was already widespread civil disobedience (non-payment) when the anti-poll tax league organized a demonstration in London.

Question 18

What were the events of the anti-poll tax league pressure group?

Answer 18

200,000 ppl gathered in London- descended into rioting, looting and violent clashed w the police

Question 19

What were the consequences of the anti-poll tax league?

Answer 19

fall of thatcher-strongly contributed to downfall of Thatcher, who resigned as PM before the end of the year.
abandonment of Poll tax- Major announced in first speech that the Poll tax would be abolished, replaced by council tax

Question 20

Explain the snowdrop campaign pressure group?

Answer 20

issue-abolition of firearms in UK, tactics- petitions, protests, laws changed- firearms amendments act 1997, controversy’s- x all groups agreed w this law, caused conflict, one of first campaigns to make use of internet

Question 21

Explain the Gherka justice campaign pressure group?

Answer 21

issue- provide all Gherka veterans served in British army pre 97 right to settle in Britain, tactics- speeches, public meetings, high profile, had celebrity attached, laws changed- all veterans who had served 4 years or more before 97 allowed to settle in Britain.

Question 22

What were the controversy’s of the Gherka justice campaign pressure group?

Answer 22

British Gherka welfare society argue Joanne Lumley’s campaign was disaster, most old pensioners were living in poor conditions, put Gherkas in neighbourhood where they faced racist treatment

Question 23

Explain the friends and family of Stephen Lawrence pressure group?

Answer 23

issue- secure conviction for those who murdered Stephen- investigation into how police treated ease, tactics- public meetings ,speeches, protests, Nelson Mandela involvement, Laws changed- new race relations bill double jeopardy reformed new powers given to commission for racial equality

Question 24

What is double jeopardy that the friends and family of Stephen Lawrence established?

Answer 24

a person could be prosecuted twice for the same offence.

Question 25

What were the controversy's of the friends and family of Stephen Lawrence pressure group?

Answer 25

Failure to secure conviction of 5 murders, concerns remain over institution of MET police, they labelled the 5 murder and said they could sue them.