Pressure groups

1
Pressure groups

• Lecture 1

2
What do we mean by a p/group?

• The field of organized groups possessing both
  formal structure and real common interests in so
  far as they influence the decisions of public
  bodies (W J M Mackenzie)
• Some group activity directed at private bodies,
  but still relatively limited
• Social movements may not have a formal structure
  and are usually united by ideas not interests

3
Differ from parties

• Party wants to win control of government or at
  least a share of office to implement policies
• Parties are broad coalitions that have to
  aggregate interests, groups often single issue
• Parties run candidates in elections, but note
  interest parties

4
Social movements approach (1)

• Literature in sociology
• Represent people with an outsider orientation
• Seek to change elements in the existing power
  structure
• Often use direct action methods
• Opposed to conventional power politics

5
Social movements approach (2)

• Do not want to influence state, want to act in
  civil society
• Loosely defined organisational structure
• Either lack clearly defined leadership or have
  charismatic leader
• Often left of centre, lifestyle politics, but
  note petrol protests

6
Changing terminology

• A search for hurrah words to describe pressure
  or interest groups
• Stakeholders used by government and EU
• Non-governmental organisations (originated with
  UN)
• Campaigning groups
• Advocacy groups

7
Whats in a name?

• We dont want to restrict your choice of group
• You can study international organisations or from
  country other than UK but need understanding
• You can study direct action groups
• Key consideration is feasibility is there
  enough material
• Step 1 check out web site

8
Web site design (1)

• Does it download reasonably quickly?
• Is the site design coherent?
• Is it uncluttered?
• Is the meaning of categories clear?
• Can you find what you want quickly and easily?
• How would the site appear to someone wanting to
  get involved?

9
Web site design (2)

• Can you join on line or download a membership
  form?
• Can you find out how to get involved in
  campaigns?
• Are illustrations relevant and appealing?
• Podcasts or videos?
• Has it been updated recently?

10
Balance of question

• Approximate division between two parts of
  question is one third/two thirds
• Assessment of group effectiveness is core of
  second part of question
• You will be given credit for examining
  methodological problems of assessing effectiveness

11
PGs and democracy in favour

• Additional route for political participation,
  allowing citizens to develop political skills
• Increasing sense of involvement in politics and
  responsiveness of process, reducing alienation
• May counter political exclusion at a time when
  more conventional forms of participation are
  declining

12
PGs and Democracy in favour (2)

• Allow diversity of opinions to be expressed which
  is important as society becomes more diverse
  more fine grained views than those of political
  parties
• Allow the intensity of opinions to be expressed
  so that democracy is more than a head counting
  exercise

13
PGs and democracy in favour (3)

• Provide information to government about public
  concerns conduit of information
• Provide expertise not easily available to
  government or only at disproportionate cost,
  leading to better decision-making
• Consistent with basic democratic norm of freedom
  of association

14
PGs and democracy against (1)

• Extent of participation is often very limited in
  both quantity and quality
• Involvement may just be financial
• May be motivated by selective incentives
• Membership often very passive
• No greater engagement with civil society

15
PGs and democracy against (2)

• Groups often lack internal democracy, very
  hierarchical, run almost as businesses
• Hence opportunities for participation may be
  limited
• Over represent educated and affluent, hence
  increase rather than decrease political exclusion

16
PGs and democracy against (3)

• May be fronts for business activities, a lack of
  transparency
• Patient groups are coy about how much money they
  receive from pharmaceutical companies, but at
  least half do
• Lobbying for (expensive) drugs sold by companies
  to treat particular conditions

17
PGs and democracy against (4)

• Fragment the political process, especially
  single issue groups
• Arouse expectations that cannot be met, fuelling
  cynicism
• Do not aggregate demands do not have choose
  between priorities or consider opportunity costs
  of policies

18
Summary of concerns

• Using language of Gerry Stoker
• Participatory failure not engaging many
  citizens effectively
• Reinforcement of (social) bias
• Undermining effective governance by increasing
  polarisation
• See book chapter on website for elaboration of
  these arguments

19
How can we categorise pressure groups?

• Insider/outsider groups cuts across traditional
  sectional/cause distinction arguing that was
  helpful but insufficient
• Insider groups recognised as legitimate by
  government
• But had to abide by rules of the political game
  which imposed constraints

20
Outsider groups

• A more disparate category
• Include would be insider groups, outsider
  groups by necessity
• Ideological or protest groups who do not want to
  be drawn into embrace of government
• Implication of typology that insider groups more
  likely to succeed but not always

21
Aberdeen Group modify typology

• Core insiders dealing with a broad range of
  issues
• Specialist insiders in policy niches
• Peripheral insiders, little influence

22
Criticisms of typology

• One can pursue both strategies simultaneously
  Greenpeace
• But does set up tensions within a group,
  Greenpeace very hierarchical and hence can
  control them
• In some areas now insider and outsider groups
  National Farmers Union and Farmers for Action

23
Easy to become an insider

• Insider groups number outsiders by 91
• Not that hard to be placed on a consultation
  list. Blair Govt. has consultation code
• Internet lowers costs of formation, mobilisation
  and involvement
• Being involved in consultation is not same as
  real access to policy makers

24
Most important criticism

• Nature of politics has changed, leading to
  changes in nature of pressure group activity
• Outsider groups becoming more successful, hence
  undermining one of key points of distinction
• Growth of direct action