Pressure Groups (GOVP1)

What is a GreenPeace quote supporting direct action?

"Direct action doesn't just highlight issues, it simplifies highly complex subjects. It cuts through jargon, mystery and bureaucracy and it demands a straight answer"

What is a quote by a campaigner on behalf of traditional methods? (about direct action techniques)

"Direct action should be used sparingly; the more it is used, the less effective it becomes. It should follow every possible effort to persuade by reason and reflect total frustration at the obstinacy, unfairness, and possibly the brutality of the system, rather than be a self-indulgent expression of the impatience of protesters"

What is a quote a campaigner acting against the M3 extension at Twyford Down say about militant direct action techniques?

"I was one of those imprisoned for protesting at Twyford Down. Sometimes when the shady avenues of bureaucracy have been exhausted, there is no choice but to throw yourself in front of the digger"

Give examples of when Petitions have been successful (3)

- An Anti-abortion organisation compiled a petition of more than 2 million names in the mid 1980s and employed postcard campaigns in 1989 and 1990 in opposition to the bill than became the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (1990) - Gurkha Justice Campaign petitions were signed by people across the country - Snowdrop Campaign petition which attracted 750,000 signatures in 6 weeks after the Dunblane Massacre in 1996. The petition called for a total ban on the private ownership and use of handguns in the UK

How can civil disobedience be used as a direct action tactic? (2 and Examples)

- Certain orders given by the state may be refused without resorting to physical violence. Examples of figures who used this technique include Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi and the widespread action of the suffragettes. More recently, the campaign against the poll tax saw widespread civil disobedience when thousands refused to register for the tax or pay it and attend court when summoned. This scale of opposition made it impossible for courts to process all the cases arising -May also involve violence or illegality in the hope of gaining media coverage when conventional methods have failed

What are the problems in measuring a groups influence? (2 and an example)

- Highly successful and privileged insider groups are unlikely to publicise the extent of their influence for fear of alienating the government and losing their status - High profile protests and stunts might appear impressive, but only succeed rarely in changing policy EXAMPLE- during the fuel protests in 2000, the government chose to speak to the Road Hauliers' Association- rather than to those organising the protest

How can direct action tactics pose a threat to democracy? (3 points and example)

- It undermines democracy and prevents the government from implementing policies- bypasses the usual methods of accessing government and questions the role of the government to make decisions by trying to force them into making changes through direct action 'tyranny of the minority' -The government has to rule in the 'national interest' and has been elected to do so therefore to only consider the voice of powerful or noisy interest groups would be undemocratic. EXAMPLE- TUC represents a substantial proportion of working people but not all of them. Nurses argue for better pay but the rest of society would be asked to pay more in taxation to finance it -Use of threatening methods (sometimes seen in direct action) can be seen to be 'holding the country to ransom' and going on strike or endangering citizens can cause havoc and is not a democratic method of showing dissatisfaction. The ideal of a joined up government can be undermined by narrow high profile cases

What is the difference between Pressure Groups and Social Movements (4 with example)

- Social movements often have a much broader focus than just one policy area (its more about changing attitudes and dominant values of society.) - Pressure groups benefit from some kind of social organisation, however social movements are far looser in terms of organisational structure. - Social movements are often less willing to work within the existing political framework, so use lots of different ways or organising political activity. - Pressure groups have formal membership structures and identifiable leaders with offices and an officially sanctioned internet presence. But social movements bring together individuals that are also members of other pressure groups. For example-- The GREEN MOVEMENT in the UK includes numerous pressure groups e.g. SOIL ASSOCIATION, GREENPEACE, PLANE STUPID and the GREEN PARTY

Define Direct action tactics

Defined as doing what the government has refused to do and may well involve law breaking/civil disobedience which is either passive (obstruction, trespass) or violent (property damaged, threatening behaviour). Was said to be 'action taken outside the constitutional and legal framework' (1995)

Why have there been an increase in the number of access points in the UK in recent years?

Due to the devolution of power, with the creation of Scottish parliament (that has wide-ranging legislative powers) the Welsh, Northern Irish and London Assemblies and Executives, creating a more independent UK supreme court

What are 'Eurogroups' and why are they used?

Eurogroups occur when like-minded pressure groups aggregate their efforts. They are used to share resources and represent a large enough constituency so that their voices are heard and not lost.

Example success an outside pressure group has had

GREENPEACE- influenced APP (Asia Pulp and Paper- one of the world's largest paper producers) in August 2015 to stop deforestation and retire 7,000 hectares of existing acacia plantations

What factors affect how much success a pressure group has?

GROUP AIMS - achievebility - public receptivity GROUP STATUS (insider/outsider) GROUP METHODS GROUP SPECIALISM AND EXPERTISE (RoSPA, RSPB, Electoral Reform Society) GROUP RESOURCES (human or material)

How can direct action methods cross the line to terrorism? Example

Groups like Animal Liberation Front have been banned on both sides of the Atlantic (as they were labelled as 'terrorist organisations') and other groups have also courted controversy e.g. anti-vivisection group Save the Newchurch Guinea Pigs, that exhumed the bodies of dead relatives of those who tested animals

In what way does group resources affect the success of a pressure group

HUMAN- e.g. size of membership (large membership can help provide finance and bigger groups can organise more effective mass campaigns) skills of members (PR skills, practical skills, legal skills) MATERIAL- e.g. group finance is probably the most obvious material resource: membership groups often rely on membership fees; groups representing powerful interests may have a lot of money; fundraising events, donations etc. are also important. Other material resources may also include equipment, office space (or other premises) and virtual assets such as registered domain names on the internet

What did Alexis de Tocqueville in the 1830s about the benefits of pressure groups?

He said they are 'powerful instrument of actions' and that their existence was an indication of a healthy democracy

How are insider and outsider pressure groups different?

IN have regular contact with decision makers, whereas OUT do not. OUT have to do publicity stunts to promote cause, but IN work behind the scene in order to not embarrass government and keep their IN status IN tend to have mainstream goals, but OUT often campaign for issues that provoke controversy

In which ways can the 'status' classification be broken down in CAPS (2) definitions and examples of each

INSIDER- has a strong two-way relationship with policy makers over a broad range of issues like BMA OUTSIDER- has no bond with the government (due to the nature of their cause or because they would prefer to stay outside the system) like Amnesty International

When were trade unions powerful (+ 2 examples)

In the 1970s (decade of high union membership and militancy) -National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) was widely credited with paralysing Edward Heath's Conservative government -Also, the so-called Winter of Discontent (1978-9) led directly to the fall of James Callaghan's Labour government

When was the New Right Approach developed?

In the 1970s-80s

Why are only a few pressure groups successful using traditional methods to influence government?

Insider groups like BMA, NFU and RSPB have had huge success because of the specialist knowledge they hold yet outsider groups such as Plane Stupid and Fathers4Justice either cannot get or do not want to attain recognition from the government and instead prefer to or resort to using direct action

What is a weaker version of the Corportist approach?

Known as tripartism. Involves bargaining between state, employers and employees about economic and social policy

When is it harder to work with a political party?

Links are created with political parties with a view to influencing the formation of policy. It is harder to work with a political party when that party is in government as they are subject to far greater demands on its time and policy-formation is often more 'top down'.

What is lobbying? (both simple and modern types +example)

Lobbying can take many forms: -At a simple level- individuals and members of pressure groups may write/speak to a government minister who has influence over the groups area of interest -In modern times, it is more common for groups to work through a professional lobbying firm. For a fee- these organisations will direct professional lobbyists to use their contacts on behalf of the pressure group in question e.g. the one-time lobbying group Ian Greer Associated arranged the initial contact between Mohammed Al Fayed (Egyptian Business Magnet) and the then Conservative MP and junior trade minister Neil Hamilton

What is the place of unions in the 21st century?

Many felt that the return of the Labour Party to government in 1997 would herald a change in the fortunes of trade unions following 18 years of Conservative government. In reality, however, the nature of the economy, the labour market, and Labour's unwillingness to reverse the anti-union legislation of the 1980s, made progress for the unions relatively slow. By 2010 just 14.2% of private sector workers and 56.3% of public sector workers were union members

Why do people join pressure groups?

NATURAL HUMAN INSTINCT to form groups; on their own individuals are rarely influential enough to influence policy and decisions that affect their lives. They act to secure whatever is necessary. -DEFENSIVE PURPOSE- groups that seek to defend the interests of people or categories of people in society e.g. Teachers (NUT) -CAMPAIGNING- groups that seek to advance particular causes and ideas not of immediate benefit to themselves e.g. NSPCC

Example success an inside pressure group has had

NFU- Agriculture Act 1947, means that in policy making- the government has to consult with NFU

What is the pluralist approach to pressure groups (and when and by who was it developed?)

Originally developed in the US by David Truman in 1951. This approach believes that pressure groups are beneficial to the political system

What are the 3 types of outsider pressure groups and definitions (WITH EXAMPLES)

POTENTIAL INSIDERS- Groups that are outside due to the nature of their cause or their inexperience (e.g. charter 88 before 1997) OUTSIDERS BY NECESSITY- Groups that are forced to operate as outsider groups as a result of there being no realistic prospect of regular consultation with government- whether because of the group's core aims or its chosen methods (e.g. Fathers4Justice, CND) IDEOLOGICAL OUTSIDERS- Groups that look to avoid establishing close working relationships with government for ideological reasons. Amnesty International, for example, must avoid becoming too closely associated with any national government if it is to preserve its reputation for impartiality. Those campaigning against globalisation may see government as part of the problem, rather than part of the solution

Give Traditional methods that pressure groups use (10)

Petitions, Lobbying European Parliament, Consultation, Lobbying Local Government or Devolved Governments, Lobbying a Member of Government, Embarking on Legal Action, Collecting Information on their Cause, Working through a Political Party, Public Demonstrations and Marches, Letter Writing

What type of democracy are pressure groups a feature of? (And what is this system of government?)

Pressure groups are a feature of PLURALIST DEMOCRACY (a system of government which encourages participation and allows for free and fair competition between competing interests)

Define pressure groups

Pressure groups are groups of like-minded individuals who come together on the basis of shared interests or a commonly held cause in order to put pressure on policy-makers at Westminster and beyond.

What are the roles of pressure groups (3)

Provide an avenue of participation, enhance representation, educate public and government

Since when has European law taken precedence over UK law?

Since the European Communities Act 1972. This occurs when the two are in conflict

Define social movements

Social movements have a loose organisational structure and they bring together more organised political parties and pressure groups that operate in a given area of policy (umbrella name for a group of pressure groups) e.g. the Green Movement

What are the problems with classifying pressure groups with their status (5)

Some groups influence government policy and also criticise government like BMA, classification can be hard as status keeps changing, information is not always openly available, doesn't take account of different policy making communities, ignores development of social movements, some stay outsider groups by choice

What are the problems with classifying pressure groups with their aims (3)

Sometimes the groups overlap, many campaign for a cause as well as representing the interests of their members like Teachers Unions, sometimes groups with the same aims can be difficult to organise into one single movement- like those representing the elderly

Give Direct Action tactics that are used by pressure groups (6)

Sophisticated media techniques, methods that cross the line towards terrorism, blockading access/occupying area, environmental publicity stunts, use of celebrities, violent illegal activity (including threats and intimidation)

What do critics argue about the Corporatist approach?

That it is unhealthy and a threat to representative democracy as decisions are made behind closed doors, beyond public scrutiny (same as lobbying- many can't afford it)

What does the Corporatist approach believe?

That manufacturing groups should have access to the government and assist in shaping and implementing policy

Give an example of when collecting information to further a cause and influence government has been used

The BMA has collated research by doctors and scientists to support minimum alcohol pricing. The profesional expertise of it's members ensures that it's findings are taken seriously by the media

Give an example of a social movement (1), involved pressure groups (3) and involved political parties (1)

The Green movement, Soil Association, Greenpeace and Plane Stupid The Green party

Give an example of an influential Eurogroup

The National Farmers Union (NFU) has a permanent office in Brussels, but is also a member of COPA-COGECA. COPA is the umbrella organisation representing the main agricultural organisations in the EU. COGECA is the equivalent organisation for agricultural co-operatives. In total, COPA-COGECA has around 100 member organisations, representing around 15 million farmers across the EU

Give an example of a pressure group that was successful at European level

The environmental group Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) played an instrumental part in changing beaches in England from 'unfit for bathing' to 'satisfactory'. This change occurred with help from pressure from Europe. The policy of awarding blue flags for clean beaches has also had an effect on raising the public profile of the EU

What is an example of a pressure group working with a political party when the party was in opposition

The relationship between Charter 88 (constitutional reform) and Labour pre-1997

How does consultation influence the government? (4) +Examples

These groups have regular contact with the government over a broad range of issues - Core insider groups have the ability to influence the formation of policy at an early stage through consultation with ministers, civil servants and government appointed bodies working on legislative proposals - Larger groups employ lobbyists to pursue their legislative goals and some maintain permanent Westminster offices - E.g. BMA outrage at lack of consultation on Health Bill 2012 caused it to be withdrawn and were able to influence the bill - Shelter (national charity that campaigns to end homelessness) was actively involved and consulted in drawing up the Homelessness Act 2002

What is the New Right Approach's view on Pressure groups?

They dislike them because they see them as selfish and not representative of society at large, undemocratic, and make it hard for the government to represent all viewpoints

Why are direct action techniques used?

To raise the profile of their chosen cause by attracting local or national media coverage. This is said to have gained popularity as groups adopting more conventional methods fail to achieve their goals

Give examples of social movements (5)

Zionism, Gay Rights Movement, the rise of Nationalism, Men's Movement, the Green Movement

What did former Conservative cabinet minister Douglas Hurd say about pressure groups negatively impacting democracy?

he said that Pressure groups are "serpents that strangle efficient government"

How is lobbying local government or devolved governments effective at influencing government (3) +Examples

- Some local councils have encouraged participation via consultative exercises, creating forums and joint committees or holding meetings. (E.g. NIMBY groups- Not In My Back Yard), are local action groups whose members wish to protect their own lifestyle. Often, they campaign against developments that will impact adversely on the view from the value of their own house or land but are less concerned about developments affecting other people or areas - Friends of the Earth and residents action on Fylde Fracking successfully lobbied Lancashire County Council who refused to give permission for fracking in 2015 (but has been overturned by national government October 2016) - Since devolution- Scottish groups have lobbied Scottish Parliament since 1999 e.g. Scottish Wildlife Trust and have effectively influenced the government on a wide range of topics from pollinators to planning, by submitting 32 Parliamentary briefings and consultation responses

When have violent illegal activity, threats and intimidation been used as a method of direct action? (3 examples)

- Student marches against tuition fees in London in November 2010 turned violent. Windows were smashed, Prince Charles' motorcade was attacked and over 50 people were injured -Terrorism is an extreme form of direct action and environmentalists who scale public buildings (like Greenpeace) or run onto a runway (Plane Stupid) in the heightened current climate of anti-terrorism do so at a great risk -Animal rights campaigners from the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) were convicted in 2008 of threatening companies connected to Huntington Life Sciences animal research laboratory

How is lobbying the government effective at influencing government (4) +Examples

- Under European Communities Act (1972), European law takes precedence over national laws where the two are in conflict. Pressure groups can therefore force change on their national government by going over their heads - Voting in EU is not unanimous so even if national government blocked it, if there was a majority vote- it would be passed - Groups such as SAS (Surfers Against Sewage) have been especially successfully campaigning on the issues of water quality and the policy of awarding blue flags for clean beaches - Eurogroups exert force on many leverage points and groups such as the NFU have permanent offices in Brussels and is a member of COPA-COGECA- an umbrella organisation representing the main agricultural organisations in the EU. TUC is a member of the EUTC - a Eurogroup that currently represents 81 national organisations from 36 countries

Give 2 examples of when letter writing campaigns were used to influence government policy

-Amnesty International encourages people to take urgent action to help those who are suffering by using letter-writing campaigns which put pressure on powerful people to help the innocent. Letter writing campaigns have helped to release thousands of prisoners since this pressure group was created in 1961 -Burma Campaign UK organised a letter-writing campaign to ask Foreign Secretary William Hauge to put pressure on the Burmese government to release it's political prisoners

How would public demonstrations and marches be effective in influencing government policy (3 examples)

-Anti-poll Tax Federation in 1990 contributed to Thatcher's downfall and replacement of the community charge with council tax in 1993. -Over 400,000 supporters of the Countryside Alliance were said to have taken part in the group's Liberty and Livelihood march in September 2001 -Stop the War march against invading Iraq in 2003 in London. Some 2 million people marched in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent the government from going to war

How can the (sometimes illegal) direct action act of blockading access/occupying area be used? (3) and Examples

-Blockades of oil refineries in protest of high fuel tax caused fuel shortages in 2000. Governments have since been reluctant to raise fuel duty -Plane Stupid occupied Stansted Airport runway in 2008 in protest against plans to build a second runway -Environmental pressure groups such as No Dash For Gas have blockaded oil drilling sites (such as Balcombe in 2013) in a protest against fracking

Why did membership and union influence decline from the 1980s onwards? (3 reasons)

-Changing occupational structure, the decline in heavy and manufacturing industry led to the decline of what Ivor Crewe called the traditional or old working class in favour of a new, less militant and less unionised working class -Anti-union legislation in the 1980s, various employment acts and trade union acts pushed through the Thatcher years (1979-90) severely limited the union's ability to act quickly and freely e.g. forcing unions to hold secret ballots before strike action and banning secondary or sympathy action. The defeat of the NUM in 1985 following a year-long strike marked a watershed in union power -Labour party reform, Labour's introduction of OMOV (one member, one vote) 1993, saw the party take a significant step away from the power of the union block-vote. The reform of the Labour leadership election process also reduced union power, as did the party's ability to attract major business backers

What reasons do environmental pressure groups have towards focusing their attention on Europe rather than solely their national governments? (2 reasons)

-Environmental issues do not respect national boundaries, and are therefore easier to deal with on a European level -The EU is already committed to environmental protection and is therefore more sympathetic to the aims of many environmental pressure groups

How is sophisticated media used help advance a groups cause? (3 points and Examples)

-Whole page adverts in national press, using direct mail or TV adverts (e.g. Barnardos ran a series of hard hitting magazine adverts depicting the fate of vulnerable children AND NSPCC 'full-stop' campaign sought to address the problem of violence against children -Groups also get unpaid media coverage through organising stunts, planning marches etc. -Surfers Against Sewage made use of strong visuals in their recent campaigns with activists wearing wetsuits and gas masks surfing in sewage-riddled waters

Why would a pressure group turn to the EU for help advancing their cause? (2 reasons)

-they are faced with a national government that is unsympathetic to their cause -their sectional interest/cause is supranational

Give reasons for the increase in direct action tactics in recent years (7) with Examples

-Increased concern for the environment, triggers mass activity and willingness to try new ideas (e.g. the Earth First!' campaign) Direct action has been used in the environmental field to include acts of sabotage on buildings and equipment- called 'ECOTERRORISM'. An example of this could also be found with environmental groups like Greenpeace and Plane Stupid. In February 2008, one of the groups activists took to the roof of the Palace of Westminster in order to launch paper aeroplanes made from documents condemning the governments plans for a third runway at Heathrow -Growing recognition that a protest is an effective means of getting concerns placed on the national agenda -Increase in popularity as groups adopting more conventional methods have failed to achieve their goals -Limited opportunities for consultation e.g. trade unions with Conservative governments in the 1980/90s- were now distanced from the government -Disillusion with Labour government and frustration with political status quo- desire to force a radical change -Use of new technology- internet, phones and use of free media including crowdfunding as a method of raising money -Achieves instant media attention and cheap publicity and allows new groups to make a name for themselves

How is lobbying a member of government an effective way to influence policy/government? (3) +Examples

-Individuals or pressure groups may write to a government minister to lobby in person those who have influence over a group's area of interest -However, new trend to use lobbying firms for a fee e.g. lobbying group Ian Greer associates arranged the initial contact between Mohamed Al Fayed and then Conservative MP and junior trade minister Neil Hamilton- an associate that was at the heart of the 'cash for questions' scandal -Another example would be the Gurkha campaign that lobbied MP's to put pressure on the government to give some Gurkha veterans the right to remain in the UK

How does embarking on legal action influence government policy? (4) +Examples

-Is expensive but can be effective when: 1) A court finds the government has acted in a manner beyond the authority granted to it (ultra vires) 2) Where the rules in place appear to violate EU law 3) Where an Act of Parliament or action of a public official is deemed to be incompatible with the Human Rights Act (1998) 4) Where 'win' or 'lose' litigation raises public awareness of a particular issue e.g. Pro-life Alliance challenges over the the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (1990). The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) has made numerous legal challenges to the coalition government's welfare changes - In 2012, the pressure group Fair Energy made a complaint to the European Commission about government nuclear subsidies, which it claimed was in breach of EU law - The Countryside Alliance used the judicial route in an attempt to delay the implementation of the ban on fox hunting, claiming that it was a denial of members' rights under the Europe Convention -NHS staff campaign group Just Health started legal proceedings against the government's decision to impose a new contract on junior doctors in England- used crowdfunding as a way of raising money and managed to raise £100,000 in 4 days

Explain how celebrities have been used to endorse campaigns as part of a direct action technique (2 successful examples)

-Joanna Lumley (2008) became the public face of the highly-publicised campaign to provide all Gurkha veterans who served in the British Army before 1997, the right to settle in Britain. Those serving after 1997 already had permission, but the UK government had not extended the offer to all of the Gurkhas (natives of Nepal). As a result of this successful campaign, all Gurkha veterans who had served 4 years or more in the British Army before 1997 would be allowed to settle in Britain -Jamie Oliver fronted the 'feed me better' campaign' that was started in 2005 to combat the junk food being served at many schools in England. The feed me better campaign attracted 271,677 signatures in support for Oliver's petition to improve the state of school meals, which was duly handed over to Downing Street. In March 2005, PM Tony Blair pledged to improve school meals for students

How have pressure groups been allowed to grow? (3 reasons)

-Political culture is conductive to pressure groups, e.g. allowing freedom of speech -Institutional structure is accessible, especially with the growth of access points -The nature of the party system (no longer a 2 party system) means that the style of public policy is favourable

Why would pressure groups work through a political party in order to influence government policy? (3)

-Pressure groups try and seek links with political parties with a view to influence the formation of policy once a party secures power -Harder to develop when government is in power as they are subject to greater demands and policy is more of a top-down approach -The best time to develop links is when they are in the opposition e.g. anti-fox hunting groups and those wanting reform of the whole constitutional system favoured links with Labour in 1979 and 1997

How are decisions made by the Council of Ministers (European Parliament), what effect does this have on pressure groups and why can this be an advantage to these pressure groups?

-Since 1986, decisions made by the council of ministers have been taken under a system of Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) rather than unanimity -This means that groups must work to build up broader European Support, rather than simply lobbying their own governments to block measures using the national veto -The advantage to this is that a UK-based group can campaign for a measure affecting the UK in the knowledge that the UK government alone cannot prevent it from happening

In which 2 ways can legal action work?

-where the court finds that the government has acted in a manner beyond the authority granted to it (ultra vires) -where such action raises public awareness of a particular issue, win or lose e.g. the Pro-life Alliance's challenges over the application of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (1990)

Give 3 examples of when environmental publicity stunts have been used as a direct action technique (2/3 =successful)

-Swampy (Daniel Hooper) dug himself into tunnels as part of direct action anti-road protests. Such protests resulted in multi-million pound delays that, it is argued, forced the government to re-think it's road-building strategy -Plane stupid have blocked runways and scaled the Palace of Westminster to raise awareness of their cause -In 1995, Shell had gained government permission to dump the 14,500 ton Brent Spar platform in the North Atlantic Ocean but Greenpeace (who opposed this) boarded the platform and using satellites, turned the Spar into a floating TV station that could broadcast live to European news programmes and show any attempts to remove the activists from the Platforms. Shell shelved its plans to dump the platform and therefore Greenpeace achieved its twin goals of raising the profile of the summit and preventing the spar form being dumped

What does the New Right Approach believe?

-That consumers, tax payers and promotional groups are neglected -That the Executive and legislature is distorted and corrupt. Ministers and officials are unable to resist consulted groups and act in the general good -That producer interests (employers and employees) are dominant, with increased access to the government. (Are concerned about the role and power of some groups)

What does the Marxist approach believe?

-That control is exercised by the ruling economic group that make decisions to serve their own interests -Believe that pressure groups have no real influence (unless thay have powerful economic resaources)as businesses control productive wealth and political power -Believe that business interests have excessive influence, control economic resources and possess access to government -Workers organisations do not have power, status and access -Want the working class to have more influence

What does the Pluralist approach believe? (2-general ideas) (5-pressure groups)

-That power should be dispersed in society and diversity should be encouraged in democracy -The political system should be open to everyone to be able to put forward their case, creation of a competitive market -That pressure groups are a natural and healthy feature of political life -That groups should compete for influence over the government and also provide advice on their specialism to the government -That pressure groups should reflect the concerns of ordinary people -That pressure groups should allow minority voices to be heard (e.g. Black Lives Matter) -The government should prevent a single groups from exercising disproportionate influence, make sure that no group gets special favours (NFU/BMA)

Give 4 different ideas of relationship with the government and balance of power. (Showing the different roles pressure groups play in political life)

-The pluralist approach -Corporatist approach -New right approach -Marxist approach

How can pressure groups be seen as good for British democracy? (12)

-They allow people to band together and express their views (cater for the natural desire to unite and protect their interests) -They act as a defence for minority interests, especially those connected with parties not in government -They encourage wider participation in public life and the decision making process -They allow more people to have a voice -Pressure groups allow people to organise and articulate their views between elections -They act as a better link between the people and those who govern them than political parties -They act as a valuable check upon those who exercise political power -They provide valuable information to government departments based upon their specialist knowledge of their field e.g. BMA NFU -Groups play an essential role in moderating the view of their more extreme members. Without such groups, individuals with extreme views might never have their views challenged and changed -Pressure groups allow the strength/ intensity of opinions to be expressed, as opposed to simply counting the number of people supporting a view (what occurs at elections) -Groups provide an additional avenue for participation, at a time when some other more traditional forms (party membership, voting) are waning -They allow a wide range of opinions to be represented than is possible through political parties, particularly in a post-ideological age of catch-all parties

Why might pressure groups be seen as posing a threat to democracy? ()

-They can be internally undemocratic, this can mean that groups lack legitimacy. For example, before the 'employment and union action legislation' passed in 1980, ballots weren't held before national strike action. ALSO, Greenpeace (according to Wyn Grant, political scientist) is undemocratic as it allows every little democratic control, has an authoritarian internal structure, is controlled by a small number of unelected leaders and ordinary members are excluded from all decisions -Many members of pressure groups do little more then pay their annual membership fee, this is refered to as passive membership or cheque book membership -Too many decisions are made in secret, with lobbying carried out behind closed doors -Threatening methods used, can disrupt industry and put public in harms way (fire service strikes) -They sometimes stop the government from doing its job and create delays in decision making -Could force the government to be concerned too much in one area instead of acting in the national interest, gets in the way of joined-up government -Reinforce inequalities as businesses and pressure groups with more money would be listened to as the government has a vested interest in delivering economic success (in order to be re-elected). Pressure groups could also be seen as a 'feature of elitism' as those with more money have more resources available to them to run a more efficient and effective campaign and influence policy more -Many non-membership groups are simply fronts for wealthy and influential business interests which may have little interest in the greater public good. This is true of many core insider groups -Information produced by some groups is unreliable. Far from educating, many groups are in fact misleading or indoctrinating -Groups often have an effect on the government that is disproportionate to their size or to the merit of their cause, often by employing direct action techniques -Groups tend to be more successful where they have articulate, educated leading members. This tends to favour groups run by the middle classes: in other words, pressure group activity is more 'elitism in action' rather then 'pluralism in action'

How can the traditional method of lobbying the European Parliament be used?

-Under the European Communities Act (1972), European law takes precedence over national laws where the two are in conflict. Pressure groups can therefore force change on their national governments by going over their heads -Voting in EU is not unanimous so even if a national government blocked it, if there was a majority vote it would be passed -Groups such as SAS (Surfers Against Sewage) have been especially successful in European Parliament campaigning on the issues of water quality and the policy of awarding blue flags for clean beaches -Eurogroups exert force on many leverage points and groups such as the NFU has a permanent office in Brussels and is a member of COPA-COGECA- an umbrella organisation representing the main agricultural organisations in the EU. TUC is a member of the EUTC- a group that currently represents 81 national organisations from 36 countires

Define new pressure group politics

Characterising the rise of more loosely organised social movements, protest movements, direct action campaigns and grassroots activities. (Different from more tightly organised and choreographed pressure group activity of earlier decades)

Why have pressure groups grown in number (6- in order of importance with examples where possible)

1. DEVELOPMENT OF A MULTI-ETHNIC AND MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY- has encouraged inclusion of groups to represent various minorities (e.g. British Sikh Federation) Other groups have also emerged to counter discrimination and racism (e.g. Anti-Nazi League) 2. IMPROVEMENTS IN COMMUNICATION- have facilitated the trend towards association and organisation (e.g. social media, internet) 3. GROWING COMPLEXITY AND SPECIALISM OF MODERN LIFE- people belong to many sub-groups (e.g. occupation- those working in the medical field may belong to one main union of health-sector workers and also to a specialised association for paramedics) 4. GROWTH IN THE SCOPE OF GOVERNMENT ACTIVITY- governments are more involved in issues such as education, health and housing. Many people want to see more and better facilities/ benefits. Many groups now articulate the views of the poor, homeless, old and mentally/physically handicapped. 5. SURGE OF INTEREST FOR SINGLE ISSUE CAMPAIGNS- on various subjects (e.g. gay rights or the export of live animals to the continent) 6. EMERGENCE OF NEW ISSUES AND POST-WAR MATERIALISM- movement away from concern for issues focusing primarily on matters affecting the home, work and income compared to ideas such as ecology, feminism and gender equality.

What are the stages in Anthony Downs' five-stage 'issue attention cycle'

1. The pre-problem stage 2. Alarmed discovery and euphoric enthusiasm 3. Realising the cost of significant progress 4. Gradual decline of intense public interest 5. The post-problem stage

What is a captive/prisoner group

A group that is dependent on government, either because they benefit from state funding or because the government played a part in their creation. For example, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) was established under the Equality Act (2006)

Define an Access Point

A point of leverage within the political system at which pressure groups and other parties can exert pressure on those who hold political power

Define single-issue groups

A pressure group or protest movement that focuses on a single issue as opposed to a range of issues underpinned by a broader set of guiding principles or an ideology

Give examples of sectional groups including their aims, methods, successes, use of media and a recent campaign where possible (2)

AA (AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION) AIM: to protect their members/ car drivers METHODS: provide breakdown cover and useful information about car maintenance SUCCESSES: is the UK'S largest motoring organisation MEDIA: use adverts to promote membership RICS (ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED SURVEYERS) AIM: to protect chartered surveyers, impose regulations on the job and provide qualifications for those working in the industry METHODS: has a monopoly on the market regarding statuses of chartered surveyers SUCCESSES: is the world leading status in the industry MEDIA: webpage

Give examples of cause groups including their aims, methods, successes, use of media and a recent campaign where possible (3)

ANIMAL LIBERATION FRONT AIM: to protect animals and their rights METHODS: often illegal actions like trespassing, destroying property, vandalism, stealing (of animals) SUCCESSES: named a terrorist organisation, Newchurch Guinea Pigs MEDIA: does radical acts to get media attention CAMPAIGN: 2006 Newchurch Guinea Pig Farm ACTION ON SMOKING AND HEALTH (ASH) AIM: to reduce smoking and promote health METHODS: provides information, uses networking, campaigning and raising awareness SUCCESSES: 2008- campaign launched to secure written warnings on cigarette packets MEDIA: press releases and media spokes people CAMPAIGN: 2016 to get pictoral warnings on packets SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF UNBORN CHILDREN AIM: educate public on abortion and promote anti abortion message METHODS: campaigns, stickers, give talks, picket abortion clinics SUCCESSES: 45,000 supporters with 100 active branches in the UK MEDIA: use websites and many supporters to speak out about their opinions on abortion

In 1966-1979, what did the Strong Corporatism governments seek to achieve?

Agreement between employers and employees on prices and incomes policy

How can we classify pressure groups (2)

Aims and status

Which 'cycle' provides an explanation for why the fortunes of a given group might wax and wane over time

Anthony Downs' five-stage 'issue attention cycle'

Why do we have a limited number of access points in the UK compared to USA

As we have a central government (unitary system), not a federal system like the USA. The USA is a system that incorporates a clear separation of powers and an entrenched system of balances and checks, and therefore offers groups a greater range of meaningful access points

What is the Corporstist approach?

Believes that organised interests (pressure groups) should be brought into the process of government. This approach focuses on close links between groups and the state in industrialised countries

How can outsider pressure groups influence policy (3)

By capturing the popular imagination and keeping the issue alive while it is still relevant, having contacts with the media and politicians to get issue into public domain, keep a reputation up- good or bad (ALF)

In which ways can the 'aims' classification be broken down in CAPS (3) definitions and examples of each

CAUSE (single or multi) Single- pressure group that supports a single issue like RSPB Multi/hybrid- group that focuses attention on range of issues under a generalised heading like Friends of the Earth PROMOTIONAL- seeks to promote issues of interest to it's members in relation to the particular topic like Greenpeace SECTIONAL (protectionist)-seeks to protect particular sections of people (like it's members) like the AA

What are the 3 types of insider pressure groups and definitions (WITH EXAMPLES)

CORE INSIDER- Groups that work closely with the government are are consulted regularly across a broad range of policy areas (e.g. BMA, the NFU) SPECIALIST INSIDER- Groups with which the government consults across only a narrow range of policies (e.g. WWF) PERIPHERAL INSIDERS- Groups whose areas of expertise or interest are so narrow that the government would only rarely consult them (e.g. the Dogs Trust)