UK Pressure Groups

Define pressure groups

Organisations that attempt to influence government policy or public opinion without seeking election themselves

What are ways pressure groups could try to influence?

• lobbying ministers, MPs, civil servants

• Trying to influence the public to create pressure for change

What are the functions of pressure groups?

• representation

• Participation

• Education

• Policy making

• ‘Tension release’

What does tension release mean?

Outlets for people to express their opposition to government policy and so PGs channel strong feelings into peaceful political action

What ways are pressure groups categorised by?

• by aim

• By relationship to the government

List the types of pressure groups by aim

• sectional groups

• Cause groups

• Dual-function groups

List the types of pressure groups by relationship to the government

• insider groups

• Outsider groups

• Threshold groups

Define sectional groups

Aim is to represent the interests of their members e.g. Trade unions

Define cause groups

Aim is to promote a cause/principle that is not directly associated with self-interest e.g. Just Stop Oil

Define dual-function groups

Represents a section of society as well as a wider cause/principle e.g. Cancer Research campaigns

Define insider groups

Groups with access to government and regularly consulted by them e.g. British Medical Association

What are the types of insider groups?

• high profile insiders

• Prisoner groups

• QUANGOs

• Specialist groups

Define prisoner groups

Insider groups that are dependent on the government for funding

Define QUANGOs

Quasi-Autonomous Non-Government Organisations created by but operationally independent of the government e.g. OFSTED

Define specialist groups

Insider groups consulted because of their niche expertise e.g. Howard League for prison reform and shelter

Define outsider groups

Groups that have no direct access to decision-makers

Why might a pressure group be an outsider group?

• by choice/potential insider

• By necessity

• By ideology

Define potential insider outsider groups

Current outsider groups seeking to be insiders but lack the experience and connections to achieve this e.g. Gurkha Justice Campaign

Define outsiders by necessity groups

Groups that are forced to operate as outsiders because of their cause or the nature of their tactics e.g. Fathers 4 Justice

Define outsiders by ideology groups

Groups who deliberately exclude any close links with government and instead position themselves as outsiders e.g Amnesty International

Define threshold groups

Pressure groups that status varies depending on which party is in power e.g. Trade Unions more influential under New Labour than Conservatives

What are the advantages of insider pressure groups?

• very close proximity to government and god channels of communication means informal lobbying

• Usually well-resourced and funded

• Often invited to take part in select ir public bill committees

• A few PGs have close historic ties to major political parties

• Can have direct influence over legislation

What are the disadvantages of insider pressure groups?

• too close tog government can lead to ‘policy entrapment’, reducing a groups independence

• Resources are no guarantee of success

• Insider groups aren’t the only groups called to give evidence to government inquires

• Can lose insider status if not in government and become a peripheral insider

• PGs are often those who are most directly affected by any policy changes and can ave a ‘policy axe to grind’

What are the advantages of outsider groups?

• High profile protests make media coverage and put pressure on decision makers to respond

• Direct actions can succeed in drawing attention to a cause

• Unconstrained by close ties to government and free to criticise policy without restraint

• Mobilising popular opinion can sometimes win insider status during a crisis

Why might an outsider group use direct action?

To promote their cause as a resort e.g. strikes, boycotts, blockades

What are factors that could determine a pressure groups success?

• achievability of aim

• In tuned with government policy and ideology

• Insider status

• Financial resources

• Public support and media

What are some factors that lead to pressure groups failing?

• lack of resources

• Association with violence and disorder

• Absence of links to government

• A hostile political climate

• Strong countervailing forces

Define countervailing forces

Equally powerful groups that wok against the cause and objective of another pressure group