“Evaluate the extent to which the tactics they deploy are the most important reason for the success or failure of a pressure groups and other organisations”

1. Outside pressure groups

1. Outside pressure groups

• outside pressure groups have to rely on grassroots support

• In order to pressure the government into supporting a specific cause they may have to rely on civil disobedience

• Extensive protests/demonstrations can demonstrate the breadth of issues- eg in 2023 77% of junior doctors voted to strike

• Tactics used by groups such as Just Stop Oil have made the government unsympathetic towards their cause and have resulted in legislation such as the 2022 sentencing act and the 2023 public order act

• However-

• These groups have policies incompatible with ideology of gov- conservatives are funded by carbon intensive companies and get to choose which groups have influence or not. If the gov supported their cause, they wouldn’t have to rely on civil disobedience to get their point across

2. Insider pressure groups

• if a group has the support of government their chance of success is a lot higher

• Allows a group to have privileged access to decision makers- means their aims can be reflected in legislation, some groups even have the ability to draft legislation- eg in 2022 the “kings fund” advised the government on the health and care act

• Michael Gove was praised for listening to the advice of green peace by banning bee harming pesticides

• However-

• Insider groups will often have to compromise ideology in order to gain support of government- only those ideologically compatible will have influence, makes it difficult for a variety of groups to achieve their aims

• For example the ban on bee harming pesticides was consequentially reversed in 2022

• Animal rights groups v farmers in badger issue (badgers have TB can kill cattle)- Farmers won as NFU donates to Tories

3. Media

• how to media presents groups has large influence on their success

• If groups are adopting methods of civil disobedience they will be painted negatively in the media- just stop oil has received extensive backlash from the media- if they lack public support then the government is unlikely to act on their cause

• If the media portrays a group in positive light and the group has public backing , the government is more likely to adopt the cause

• However-

• Even after the support shown in brexit protests of over one million there was a lack of action done by the government as reversing Brexit was incompatible with the Tory Government at the time- if a different government was in place then another outcome may have been possible

Conclusion-

Whilst the tactics used by groups can be largely influential in their success, ultimately regardless of tactics, if a group is not supported by government and there isn’t sufficient backing then a group is unlikely to succeed and gov gets to choose which groups gain influence as groups are often competing with each other