Pressure groups and other influences

How different pressure groups exert influence and how their methods and influence vary in contemporary politics. • Case studies of two different pressure groups, highlighting examples of how their methods and influence vary. • Other collective organisations and groups including think tanks, lobbyists and corporations, and their influence on government and Parliament.

define pressure groups

an organisation that shares common interests/aims (usually around a single issue) that aims to influence political decision making

Functions of a pressure group

* Encouraging public participation in the political arena by offering legitimate and effective opportunities to challenge govt activity (lobbying)
* Providing essential channels of communication between they govt and the governed
* Protecting minority rights ('Shelter' and the homeless)
* Providing expert information to the govt
* Mobilising public support for certain issues (2010 student protests against tuition fee rise)

Insider pressure groups

* Established contact with govt decision makers
* Often law abiding
* Retain good public image to command trust with govt
* Consulted by govt for new laws

Outsider pressure groups

* Not consulted by govt


* Instead, try to influence decision making by use of direct action that sometimes contradicts law

Causal pressure groups

* Groups campaign for particular issue/cause
* Campaigners often come from a wide variety of backgrounds (open membership)

Sectional pressure groups

* Look after own section of society
* Members have similar occupations and interests (closed membership)
* More insider

Pluralist view on pressure groups

they enhance democracy, believing that groups promote healthy debate and discussion that strengthen the democratic process.

What is the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT)?

* Promote rights and conditions of workers
* Sectional and outsider

Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) failures

* Strikes against closing ticket offices (2015/16) unsuccessful (closed 289 offices)

2004: Expelled from Labour Party

Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) successes

* 2012: £850 Olympic bonus
* Threatened to strike if they weren't given a bonus

(strikes need to affect general population to be successful)

What is the Confederation of British Industry (CBI)?

* Wanted to sustain businesses success
* Biggest lobby group in the UK (main method= lobbying)
* Aids capitalist economy

Confederation of British Industry (CBI) failures

2020 Digital Services Tax which CBI was against

Confederation of British Industry (CBI) successes

2018: govt listened to them and postponed new employment taxation

What is Green Peace?

* Passionate about defending natural world
* Use direct action
* Outsider and causal

Green Peace successes

* Established ocean sanctuary
* Halted fracking by lobbying in 2019
* 2014: Lego ends partnership with Shell

Green Peace failures

Fined £80k for occupying oil rig after an attempt to stop Arctic drilling

What is Friends of the Earth?

* Tackling climate emergency and reverse environmental degradation
* causal and insider

Friends of the Earth failures

* 2010: Nigerian govt announced they would ban gas flaring but it was not enforced and public still gas flare
* 2020: UK supreme court overturned Heathrow ban

Friends of the Earth successes

* 2020: took legal action and gave evidence against Heathrow building a new runway

Court ruled Heathrow runway illegal
* 2000: recycling ad campaign
* 2003: Household Waste Recycling Act was passed
* 2016: 43% of household waste had been recycled

What are methods used by pressure groups?

* Lobbying
* Organise public demonstrations
* Research and publish reports
* Give evidence at hearings
* Bring test cases to court
* Publicity stunts
* Go on strike
* Digital campaigns
* Organise publicity campaigns
* Use a celebrity spokesperson (Joanna Lumley - Justice for Ghurkas)

Factors that affect PG's chances of success

* Aims and philosophy
* Status (access to decision makers is beneficial)
* Wealth
* Size
* Organisation and leadership
* Expertise (credible and specialised knowledge = valuable to govt)

What is pluralist democracy?

* well educated citizenry, empowered to participate in the shaping of policy
* wide dispersal of power among healthily competing groups in a system not dominated by elites
* responsible govt that respects the rights of citizens to have their say within the democratic principles of the state

define think tank

groups of experts from different backgrounds who are brought together to investigate particular topics and offer solutions to complicated political, economic and social issues (usually non profit)

How do think tanks influence government?

their research and public reports are read by MPs and then influence policies

HOWEVER, less politically practical ideas are often ignored

Problem with think tanks

less politically practical ideas are often ignored

What is the Centre for Social Justice?

* think tank
* set up by former Tory Party leader Iain Duncan Smith (2004)to look for new solutions to the problems of people in disadvantaged communities

What is the Adam Smith Institute?

* think tank
* influenced UK economy, used alot by Thatcher

What is the Fabian Society?

* socialist think tank that provided intellectual roots for modern Labour party
* heavily influenced Labour govt in 90s and 2000s on matters such as tax reform and health spending

a synoptic link with think tanks?

they used to advise and solve issues such as poverty, climate change etc

define lobbyists

members of organisations who are paid to influence particular interests

* need contacts
* cost £2b annually

Problem with lobbying

* not enough transparency
* expected to regulate themselves

define corporation

large business organisation, which can have substantial influence over policy and legislation

Problem with coporations

* lack of transparency
* many business leaders have been given seats in the House of Lords (Lord Billimoria, President of CBI) = elitism?