Evaluate the view that pressure groups are successful due to their ability to generate mass support

Introduction

• Pressure Group = … eg. …

Paragraph Focus

• Para 1 = Ability to Generate Mass Support

• Para 2 = Pressure Group Status

• Para 3 = Strategy

Para 1 = Weaker Argument - Important

• Generating mass support around a particular issue is highly important to the success of pressure groups

• The government is much more likely to change policy if it is clear there is support from large sections of the population, as not doing so may alienate voters at the next election

• This contrasts with the lack of success of the Just Stop Oil movement, which gained a lot of media attention in 2022 due to disruptive public demonstrations

• This alienated a lot of the public to their cause of ending all new licences for the production of fossil fuels in the UK and led to little pressure being put on the government to change policy

Para 1 = Stronger Argument - Not Important

• On the other hand, it is often still very difficult for pressure groups to get the government to change policy even if they have significant public support.

• Changing policy due to pressure groups would lead to the government admitting they were wrong, which they are reluctant to do, especially on major policy issues that may be key to their legitimacy

• eg. The 2019 People’s Vote march for a second referendum on Brexit had over 700,000 participants but failed to change government policy.

• Government u-turns are also more likely if the government is weak and has a small majority

Para 2 = Weaker Argument - Not Important

• the importance of government attitudes shouldn’t be overstated

• Outsider groups can have significant success even when the government isn’t aligned with their policies

• whilst insider groups are very dependent on their contacts with the government of the day

Para 2 = Stronger Argument - Important

• Insider pressure groups rely on close contacts with ministers, members of parliament and civil servants to achieve their aims

• most insider groups' objectives are generally in line with the views of the government, making it more likely for them to be listened to

Para 3 = Weaker Argument - Not Important

• On the other hand, it can be argued that strategy and leadership are less important than public support and government attitudes, which are the key determinants of success.

• This can be seen in the recent industrial action by RMT workers, who have been highly effective at causing disruption and keeping their grievances high on the political agenda.

• They have also had an effective leader in Mick Lynch, who has gained popularity in the media and represented their cause well.

• Nonetheless, they have been unable to have any real success to date

Para 3 = Stronger Argument - Important

• Strategy is central to the success of pressure group campaigns.

• Key to this is knowing which ‘access points’ in the political system to target and how to articulate an attainable and popular goal in order to have the most chance of success.

• The British Medical Association’s success in campaigning for a ban on smoking in cars with children is a perfect example of this.

• They used online technology to allow supporters to lobby MPs and then made its case to the House of Lords.

• A Labour peer introduced an amendment to the 2014 Children and Families Bill, which came into force in October 2015