Pressure Groups

Marches & Rallies (Explain what pressure groups can do)

Pressure groups are legally allowed to protest/march anywhere within reason: outside of buildings, along the streets - it is their democratic rights!

Media Campaigns (How pressure groups run those and why?)

Large pressure groups have membership fees and can afford to spend a lot of money on viral campaigns + produce adverts to get people’s attention

Breaking the Law - turned violent(explain what some pressure groups think needs to be done?)

Some pressure groups feel they have to break the law to get attention & their point across to make a change.

Breaking the Law - planned (explain what other groups think should be done to get attention?)

Other pressure groups feel that planned disruption of the whole city/country is needed to get attention

Marches

K1: what march was effective?

The EIS held a march outside the Scottish parliament in 2022 to pressure the government to to give teachers a pay rise

• Raised attention of the media & teachers get the pay rise

Marches & Rallies

K2: when we’re not effective?

People’s Vote March in London in 2019, which 1 million people attended (2nd biggest march in the UK)→ wanted a second EU Referendum

• Did not work→ second referendum did not happen, marches are not always effective and change the gov’s decisions

Media Campaigns

K1: why effective?

Amnesty International used the “Age Loud Campaign in 2024 to promote the protection of human rights in older age

• Was effective→ received 250,000 views on YouTube and convinced other people to join back the campaign

Media Campaigns

K2: why can be ineffective?

Due to algorithms on Social Media platforms, people are often in an “echo chamber” meaning they only see posts from pressure groups they already support

• showing that media campaigns are not always effective→ people who follow those groups already support them + if campaign goes viral it does not always mean gov will act

Breaking the Law - turned violent

K1: when was effective?

In August 2011, riots broke out across UK→ shooting of a Black Man, Mark Duggan by the Met Police

• Was effective, as attracted massive media attention→ laws weren’t changed, but media puts pressure on gov to react

When Breaking the Law - turned violent were not effective? K2

In 2010→ student protests against tuition fees rise (плата за обучение)→ car of Prince Charles was attacked & Tory Party HQ raided (налет на их штаб)

• Tuition fees still rose, and they were seen as irresponsible & people turned against them

When planned break of the law was effective ?

Just Stop Oil→ to get media attention→ 2 activists threw a tin of soup on Van Gogh’s Sunflower painting

• Was effective, as Increased pressure on the government and attracted people’s attention

When planned break of the law was ineffective?

However, 68% of public disapproved the Justice of Stop Oil group

• It was not effective in the same time, because it turned people away from them, as their stuns often cause significant disruption of the public