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27 Cards in this Set
- Front
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Define a pressure group |
These are political associations dedicated to defending and promoting the interests of a section of the community or that wish to pursue a particular cause in order to influence government at any level. |
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Explain the difference between sectional and promotional pressure groups? |
Sectional pressure groups are a way of classifying pressure groups into either sectional groups that represent a section of society or promotional groups that pursue a cause or an issue. |
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Explain the difference between insider and outsider pressure groups? |
This is a way of classifying pressure groups into either those that have influence inside governing circles and those that have to influence decision makers from outside governing cricles. |
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Give some examples of sectional pressure groups |
Confederation of British Industry, National Union of Students, British Bankers' Association, Royal College of Nurses, Age UK |
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Give some examples of promotional pressure groups |
Friends of the Earth, Action on Smoking and Health, Liberty, Amnesty International |
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What are the characteristics and methods of insider pressure groups? |
- They are regularly consulted by ministers, civil servants and policy advisers - Often consulted by parliamentary committees - Sometimes have representatives sitting on policy and advisery committees - Those concerned with Europe have direct access to the European Commission and European Parliament - Regional groups have direct access to devolved administrations - Local groups have access to local authorities |
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Examples of insider pressure groups |
- National Union of Farmers (NFU) - Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) - Automobile Association (AA) - NAtional Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) |
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Why might some pressure groups be outsiders? |
- Decision makers might not want to be associated with them - They might want to retain their independence |
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Characteristics and methods of outsider pressure groups |
- They seek to mobilise public support -They often use direct action, for example, street demonstrations, publicity stunts, acts of civil disobidience - They seek to use media campaigns - They increasingly use the internet and social networks to build up support - They also use petitions (often online) |
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Examples of outsider pressure groups |
- Greenpeace - Plane stupid - Animal Liberation Front - Countryside Alliance |
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Main distinctions between pressrue groups and political parties |
- parties actively seek govt power/share of power. pressure groups only seek to influence. - parties develop policies across the full range of government business. pressure groups have narrow goals (normally concentrating on one issue/ narrow interests of one group). - parties have to make themselves accountable for their policies. pressure groups do not. - parties normally have a formal organisation, pressure groups might be formally organised, but are often very loose organisations. |
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Where can the distinction between pressure groups/political parties be unclear? |
- pressure groups sometimes put up candidates for elections in order to publicise their goals or issue. However, this does not mean they seek power, only influence. - some pressure groups develop a wide range of policies like parties do. trade unions and the CBI are good examples. - sometimes pressure groups transform into parties. there can be confusion over such transitional groups. eg. the greens and ukip - some pressure groups are very closely associated with parties. this used to be the case w trade unions and labour (still is to some extent). |
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define pluralism |
this is a description of a society or political system which suggests that there are many groups/beliefs/cultures and lifestyles that flourish together and are recognised and tolerated. it can mean that power is widely dispersed and not concentrated in a few hands. |
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define elitism |
this is a description of a society or a political system which suggests that power - political, social and economic - resides in the hands of a small number of people often known as elites. msot groups in society are therefore denied power and influence. |
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how do pressure groups enhance pluralism |
- they disperse power and influence very widely - they ensure that many groups are able to disperse political influence - help to protect the interests of many groups in society - they balance the power of centralised government |
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how are pressure groups associated with elitism |
- some powerful, wealthy, influential pressure groups might concentrate power in a few hands. - influential insider groups might serve to concentrate power in government hands - some pressure groups might be led by unaccountable elites - some groups could hold disproportionate amounts of power |
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why are pressure groups becoming more important? |
- membership of and indentification with political parties is becoming more important. pressure group activity replaces this to some extent - the electorate is arguably better informed and more able to be involved in political issues - internet/social media means that it's easier to mount campaigns and initiate new associations - both the number of pressure groups and the amount of members has increased. - society is more pluralistic and fragmented into groups with special interests. - the political system is arguably more accessible to group activity, mroe points of access and politicians are more sensitive to public opinion - growing affluence = population has more interests and therefore makes more demands on the political system |
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what are some main methods used by pressure groups? why are they used? who uses them? |
- lobbying ministers, insiders think they can influence decisions and policy, e.g. CBI - sitting on govt advisory and policy committees, can supply specialist info and advice, e.g. BMA - lobbying EU institutions, most of their concerns are under EU jurisdiction, e.g. NFU - mass demonstration, widespread support but are outsiders, e.g. anti tuition fees/iraq war - media campaigns, celebs are involved and captures public imagination, e.g. justice for gurkhas - civil disobidience, outsiders need to attract publicity, e.g. greenpeace - internet campaigns, appeal to the young/wide audience/ easy to spread info, e.g. friends of the earth, PETA? - action through the law courts, the rights of members are threatened, trade unions |
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why are some pressure groups more successful than others? |
- Resources (financial/organisational), allows to groups to mount major campaigns. e.g. countryside alliance organised mass demonstrations in london, anti-fox hunting legislation was watered down in 2004 - insider status, well trusted by govt. e.g. action on smoking and health. changed to cigarette packaging - tactics, save england's forests used many effective tactics (huge e-petition, celeb campaigners, demonstrations, MP involvement). success - plans scrapped in 2010 - sharing same agenda as government, CBI, secured govt commitment to reduce corporation tax on profits by 14% over 4 years - lack of opposition, make poverty history, govt raised commitment to foreign debt relief and increased overseas aid - favourable circumstances, ASH helped by falling lung cancer rates after anti smoking legislation, = 2006 ban on smoking in public places - celeb involvement, justice for gurkhas and joanna lumley, 2009 win right to live in uk - strategic position, british bankers' association, plans to limit bonuses and high salaries watered down in 2011 |
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Key features and methods of the British Bankers' Association |
- Sectional - Insider - Concentrates power - Lobbies Ministers |
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Key features and methods of Greenpeace |
- Promotional - Outsider - Disperses power - uses direct action, civil disobedience |
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Key features and methods of Liberty |
- Promotional - Outsider - Disperses power - uses media campaigns |
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Key features and methods of the Countryside Alliance |
- sectional - outsider - disperses power - uses media campaigns, public demonstrations, civil disobedience |
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key features and methods of the institute of directors |
- sectional - insider - concentrates power - uses lobbying, places on advisory committees, evidence to parliament |
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what is a pluralist democracy |
a political system within which many different groups are tolerated, allowed to flourish and able to influence decision making |
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ways in which pressure groups enhance democracy |
- they often represent groups/causes that have been ignored by political parties - help to disperse power more widely, preventing dangerous concentrations of power - help to educate/inform the public about important issues - help the governing process by providing informed advice - they can act as a control mechanism against over mighty government - they provide ways in which people can participate in politics, especially at a time when traditional forms are declining - outlet for public grievances ('tension release') |
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ways in which pressure groups dont support democracy |
- might undermine the authority of elected officials and parliament - representing the politics of self interest, might provide biased or false info - too powerful could = hyper pluralism = could be too obstructive and slow the process of government - lack elective legitimacy, not democratically accountable - civil disobidience = threatens order in society = subverts democracy - wealthy and influential pressure groups can have more influence than can be justified - poor internal democracy; the actions of leaders in elitist groups might not reflect accurately the views of membership |
