Politics UK

Eleventh Edition

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Chapter 11

Pressure groups

Chapter Summary

Pressure groups seek to influence policy and not control it. ‘Insider’ groups, which have won acceptance by government, have traditionally had a privileged position compared with ‘outsider’ groups on the periphery, which tend to use high-profile techniques that serve to disguise their lack of real influence. Business groups seek to influence through the CBI and other channels, while trade unions have lost much power since 1979. Theoretical approaches include pluralism, corporatism and Marxism. The professional lobbying of Parliament and government has raised questions of democracy and legality, but the creation of a register for lobbyists is an inadequate response. On balance, pressure group influence has probably waned since 1979 but some groups, concerned with environmental and animal issues, have increased their influence and membership. Perhaps a shift has occurred in the way pressure groups interact with government, with widely based popular movements now placing government under a kind of intense pressure it is loath to ignore.

Learning Objectives

  • To explain that formal democratic government structures conceal the myriad hidden contacts between government and organised interests.
  • To analyse and explain the way in which groups are organised and operate.
  • To take account of the development and impact of disruptive direct action campaigns
  • To introduce some familiarity with theories regarding this area of government interaction with the governed.
  • To analyse some issues connected with lobbying by pressure groups, including their impact on democracy.
  • To provide some specific examples of pressure group activity.

Quizzes

Test your knowledge with the Chapter 11 quizzes!

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Discussion Questions

  1. Do pressure groups enhance or undermine democracy in the UK? Discuss with reference to insider and outsider groups, their influence on policy, and public accountability.
  2. To what extent do disruptive direct action campaigns, such as those by Extinction Rebellion, affect public support for the causes they advocate? Are such methods effective in bringing about legislative change?

Amnesty International – A global organization advocating for human rights and justice. (www.amnesty.org)

Change.org – A petition platform that enables individuals to campaign for social, political, and environmental change. (www.change.org)

Countryside Alliance – A rural advocacy group supporting the interests of countryside communities. (www.countryside-alliance.org/index.html)

Friends of the Earth – An environmental campaigning group promoting ecological and climate-related causes. (www.foe.co.uk)

Greenpeace UK – A global environmental organization focused on climate, oceans, forests, and biodiversity. (www.greenpeace.org.uk)

Trades Union Congress (TUC) – A federation of trade unions representing workers’ interests and advocating for workers’ rights. (www.tuc.org.uk)

Flashcards

Refresh your knowledge of key terms with this chapter’s flashcards.

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Timeline

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