Pressure Groups

Classification of Pressure groups

Pressure groups can range from local, national, or international

Sectional/interest groups- represent interests of a particular section of society eg. BMA represents Doctors, NUT represent teachers

Cause; issue or promotional groups: focus on a particular issue/aim eg. stop HS2, Fathers 4 Justice. Have particular aims and wants to achieve them

There is some over lap and some pressure groups seem to fit into both categories - known as dual function pressure groups. Example -> Cancer Research, campaigning for better transport # #

Insider /Outsider

Insider: able to discuss policy with those making decisions eg. government, councils, business. Government consulting BMA when policy affects doctors

Outsider: groups that do not have direct access to decision makers, not consulted -- they trespass and do things outside the law such as green peace and fathers 4 justice

Examples

Some pressure groups are short-lived such as the anti-poll tax federation in 1989-90. Campaigned against unpopular local poll tax and succeeded in government abolishing the tax - Group ceased to exist after this - UKIP following same trend

What are PG?

All pressure groups try to exercise power of the government to influence decisions made by the executive

Pressure groups can be of any topic

  • Businesses
  • Trade Unions
  • Charities

How do they achieve their means?

a pressure group is a group of people that seek to gain a common goal and to influence decisions of the government and public opinion

Can use both legal and illegal means

organised group of people that aims to influence decision

An association that maybe formal or informal, whose purpose is to represent areas of the community

Sims and diff of PG and Parties

Similarities

  • Both try to influence policy
  • Both have supporters of which agree with outlook

Differences

  • They don't seek to be elected
  • don't always act by legal means
  • Not necessarily accountable to the public unlike the government as they have to be supported by their members

Cause insider: RSPB, National Trust
Cause Outsider: Green peace

Sectional Insider: BMA, Church of England
Sectional Outsider:

Think Tanks

= a pressure group that like to propose idea in public policy

What is a think tank?

can also be referred to as a policy institute, corporation or group

It conducts research and engages in promoting areas such as social policy, political strategy, economy, science or technology issues

They are mostly found in developed countries currently there are 6,976 think tanks - in Europe are 2,393 and 1,872 in western Europe

It is a way of breaking down power, as government are not doing their own research