Pressure Groups and Protest Movements- PART A

Pressure Group Pluralism-

• The idea that there should be a diverese range and lots of pressure groups

Access Points-

• The different ways in which pressure groups can access the government

May include-

• Media/Public opinion
• EU
• Local Government
• Legislature (Parliament
• Government
• Law Courts

Outsider Groups-

• Pressure groups that are unable to, or do not want to access the government

eg. Animal Liberation Front (ALF) - most governments treat them as a terrorist organisation

Lobbying-

• The practice of meeting with elected representatives to persuade them of the merits of the case you wish to advance

Mass Media-

Direct Action- is any actuon beyond the usual constitutional and legal framework, such as obsturcting access to a buildfing or the building of a motor way> Terrorism is an estremme form> Essentially, it is an attempt to coerce those in authority into doing something they would not otherwise do

Pressure Group- organisations of people who try and promote the interests of members, or advance a specific cause. Typically try and influence Government policy and are outside and beyond the control of government

New Social Movement- movements that have emerged since the 1960s in order to influence public policy on issues such as the environment, nuclear energy, peace and women's rights> They aim to bring about fundamental change in society

 Policy Network- the different kinds of relationships that can apply between government, pressure groups and the range of other players involved in policy making in a particular sector> Policy communities and issue networks are subsections of policy networks

Corporatism- a system of policy making in which major economic interests work closely together withing the formal structures of government to devise and carry on out public policies

Tripartism- a loose, less centralised form of corporatism of the type operated under administrations of both British parties in the 1960s and 1970s> it is weaker than the continental form of corporatism in which corporist decision making has often been instutuionalised (built into the system of government)

Insider Groups- Regularly consulted by government-

eg. BMA- constant advisor to government on whole range of medical issues

has offices in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff & Brussels (different assemblies)

Core insiders- close relationshipds with decision makers over broad range of issues

Specialist insiders- offer expertise and influence in narrow policy areas

Peripheral insiders- often consulted but carrying little real political influence and authority (eg Students)

Protective Groups-

 Promotional groups

Eurogroup- a European-level fedaration of national pressure groups,

eg. the TUC belongs to ETUC (The European Trade Union Confederation)

Pressure Group Politics-