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Are pressure groups a

threat to democracy?

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BMA British Medical Association

Read the description ofthe BMA

How would you classify

it as a pressure group?How is it successful?

What are the reasonsfor its success?

Sectional, insider group,protective.

Doctors interests.

Successful lobbying of MPs.

Supports public healthinitiatives.

Respected by Govt, public,international bodies.

Large membership-130,000.

Got a lot of money. Effective use of committees.

Brief politicians-specialistteams. Expertise.

Finance public informationcampaigns.

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Why do we need pressure groups?

Traditionally pressure groups haveperformed a range of functions;

Means of popular participation in politics /nationally and locally between elections

Act as source of specialist knowledge

Act as intermediaries between competinggroups

Important social function

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Examples; mencap was asked bygovernment in 2004 to coordinate a studyinto education / intervention for disabled

children. Study presented to gov. in 2005

ASH 2/3 of funding given by Dept. ofHealth.

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Why have pressure groups increasedin importance?

Membership of parties has fallen.

Parties no longer represent interests ofmembers

Development of new social movements ledto increased numbers.

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Are some pressure groups moreequal than others?

Main argument in favour of pressure group activityis put forward by pluralists. The most notable wasRobert Dahl. They argue that society consists of

many groups representing different sections insociety and all have equal opportunity to shapegovernment policy.

Opponents to this argue that this is a nave

attitude and that some pressure groups distortbalance of power.

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Are some pressure groups moreequal than others?

Dahl counters this by saying that power isdispersed between pressure groups to avoid adominant group system, by doing the following;

Liberal democracies relatively easy for individuals /groups to enter politics.

Countervailing groups balance power

Even smallest groups have power to influence

voters Individuals likely to be a member of different

groups.

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Criticisms of pluralismPluralism

Elitists

Pluralists fail to consider

hidden forces. British Motor

Federation prevented a

debate on road building untilexplosion of anti-roads

protests in the 1990s.

Inequalities of wealth ensure

that there is massively

unequal competition.State run by and for

capitalist ruling class.

Most vulnerable groups not

organised.

From new right

Certain groups are able to

increase their size (unions)

and therefore power, by

offering inducements.

These groups do not exist for

the common good, merely to

benefit their members.

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PERSPECTIVES ON PRESSUREGROUPS

Pluralism Elitism

New RightCorporatist

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PERSPECTIVES ON PRESSUREGROUPS

Pluralism

Believe in competition

Suffragettes

Key element of civilsociety

Neopluralism?

Cater for diverse

society

Elitism

Idea ofcorporatismappeals toelitist.

Similarbackgrounds

Key decisions

by small no.

New Right

Thatcher

dislike oforganisedgroups.

What was thepoint of

representation?

Corporatist

1960s-70sCo-operationbetweenunions andemployers

Eg.CBI andTUC

Socialpartners

Trade unionsandemployers insocialdialogue

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Policy networks

Policy network a description of thedifferent kinds of relationships betweengroups and government and the range of

players (organised groups, national andEuropean civil servants, academics)

Policy communities

Small, stable and consensualgroupings, government officialsand group leaders.

Issue networks

Large, flexible and opennetworks of particularindividuals in any policyarea. Wider than policy

communities. Grown since80s.

This concept fits withwhich other theory onpressure groups?

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Issue networksAgricultural policy

Policy made incorridors of Whitehallbetween

representatives of NFUand Ministry of

Agriculture.

DEFRA will meet with;

European civil servants

NFU

Friends of the Earth

Food manufacturers

Academic researchers

Consumerorganisations

Which of these is a policy community and which is a policy network.

Explain why.