Pressure groups UK
- Created by: meliasyd
- Created on: 19-05-19 17:28
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- Pressure Groups
- Political parties
- Differences
- Pressure groups = seek to influence Political parties = seek power
- Pressure groups = seeks to represent minority Political parties = represent majority
- Nature of large, 'catch all' parties and pressure groups highly different - organisation + aims
- Similarities
- Some parties (eg. Greens and UKIP) are single issue
- Pressure groups such as trade unions may be permanent - like political parties
- Pressure groups and minority parties have some similarities because of nature of British politics
- Differences
- Sectional
- Seek to protect interests of members eg. trade unions
- British Medical Association - trade union protecting and advocating for British Doctors
- NASUWT - National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers
- Identifiable section of society
- Promotional / Causal
- No single identifiable type
- Promote or defend a single issue - seeking to change attitudes / educate
- Not directly related to self interest of members
- Greenpeace - environmentalist pressure group
- RSPB - Royal Society for the Protection of Birds protecting wildlife + birds
- Electoral Reform Society - campaigns in favour of proportional representation
- How pressure groups exert influence
- Lobbying
- Direct access to government officials
- Can benefit the group + the goverment by informing of public opinion
- eg. Jamie Oliver Soft drinks industry levy
- Untitled
- Give evidence at hearings
- Consultations and select committees may invite pressure groups as a communication line
- Groups can advocate for members and influence those in power
- Publicity campaigns
- Media / cyberactivism in order to use social media to mobilise support
- Greenpeace + reddit
- Mumsnet - childcare vouchers
- Public demonstrations
- Direct action
- eg. Extinction rebellion
- eg. UK Uncut - protest tax avoidance and welfare cuts
- Civil disobedience
- Sit ins
- Picketing (outside a workplace)
- Protest marches
- Striking
- Celebrity spokesperson
- Ghurka Justice - Joanna Lumley
- Sugary drinks - Jamie Oliver
- Lobbying
- Insider groups
- Close relationship with a govt department
- May be regularly consulted by a select committee
- Links to a political party
- eg. National Farming Union - NFU
- Confederation of British Industry - CBI has links with tory party
- Lobbyist tactics
- Outsider groups
- No productive links to government - outside of decision making and not consulted
- Greater freedom to act as they wish eg. civil obedience
- eg. Greenpeace - obstructing whaling ships
- Plane stupid - opposition to airport expansion
- More likely to use direct action
- Factors affecting success
- Insider status
- Having access to government officials means direct influence
- 2014 Howard league for penal reform successfully campaigned to end ban on prisoners receiving books
- Wealth
- Financial resources allow groups to pay for promotional things - eg lobbyist
- British Bankers' Association cut corporation tax 2012
- Large membership
- Having a lot of members can mean that groups can have large impact
- Large numbers of signatures on petitions / protestors
- Having a lot of members can mean that groups can have large impact
- Organisation
- Effective management and coordination will allow a group to achieve goals
- Transport workers bonus during 2012 Olympics
- Expertise
- If a group has large knowledge on an issue - a government is likely to take note / act upon recommendations
- 2016 - AA provided evidence to increase penalty for mobile phone use
- Celebrity endorsement
- Popular celebrity - generate press interest and raise profile
- Joanna Lumley Ghurka Justice 2009
- Jamie Oliver soft drinks industry levy 2016
- Respectable tactics
- Use of violent protest / direct action can reduce effectiveness of a campaign
- Extinction rebellion - condemnation of movement reduced effectiveness
- Insider status
- Political parties
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