Pressure groupsPressure groups

Lecture 1Lecture 1

What do we mean by a p/group?What do we mean by a p/group?

‘‘The field of organized groups possessing The field of organized groups possessing both formal structure and real common both formal structure and real common interests in so far as they influence the interests in so far as they influence the decisions of public bodies’ (W J M decisions of public bodies’ (W J M Mackenzie)Mackenzie)

Some group activity directed at private Some group activity directed at private bodies, but still relatively limitedbodies, but still relatively limited

Social movements may not have a formal Social movements may not have a formal structure and are usually united by ideas structure and are usually united by ideas not interestsnot interests

Differ from partiesDiffer from parties

Party wants to win control of Party wants to win control of government or at least a share of government or at least a share of office to implement policiesoffice to implement policies

Parties are broad coalitions that have Parties are broad coalitions that have to aggregate interests, groups often to aggregate interests, groups often single issuesingle issue

Parties run candidates in elections, Parties run candidates in elections, but note ‘interest parties’but note ‘interest parties’

Social movements approach (1)Social movements approach (1)

Literature in sociologyLiterature in sociology Represent people with an outsider Represent people with an outsider

orientationorientation Seek to change elements in the Seek to change elements in the

existing power structureexisting power structure Often use direct action methodsOften use direct action methods Opposed to conventional power Opposed to conventional power

politicspolitics

Social movements approach (2)Social movements approach (2)

Do not want to influence state, want Do not want to influence state, want to act in civil societyto act in civil society

Loosely defined organisational Loosely defined organisational structurestructure

Either lack clearly defined leadership Either lack clearly defined leadership or have charismatic leaderor have charismatic leader

Often left of centre, lifestyle politics, Often left of centre, lifestyle politics, but note petrol protestsbut note petrol protests

Changing terminologyChanging terminology

A search for ‘hurrah words’ to A search for ‘hurrah words’ to describe pressure or interest groupsdescribe pressure or interest groups

Stakeholders – used by government Stakeholders – used by government and EUand EU

Non-governmental organisations Non-governmental organisations (originated with UN)(originated with UN)

Campaigning groupsCampaigning groups Advocacy groupsAdvocacy groups

What’s in a name?What’s in a name?

We don’t want to restrict your choice We don’t want to restrict your choice of groupof group

You can study international You can study international organisations or from country other organisations or from country other than UK – but need understandingthan UK – but need understanding

You can study direct action groupsYou can study direct action groups Key consideration is feasibility – is Key consideration is feasibility – is

there enough materialthere enough material Step 1: check out web siteStep 1: check out web site

Web site design (1)Web site design (1)

Does it download reasonably quickly?Does it download reasonably quickly? Is the site design coherent?Is the site design coherent? Is it uncluttered?Is it uncluttered? Is the meaning of categories clear?Is the meaning of categories clear? Can you find what you want quickly Can you find what you want quickly

and easily?and easily? How would the site appear to How would the site appear to

someone wanting to get involved?someone wanting to get involved?

Web site design (2)Web site design (2)

Can you join on line or download a Can you join on line or download a membership form?membership form?

Can you find out how to get involved Can you find out how to get involved in campaigns?in campaigns?

Are illustrations relevant and Are illustrations relevant and appealing?appealing?

Podcasts or videos?Podcasts or videos? Has it been updated recently?Has it been updated recently?

Balance of questionBalance of question

Approximate Approximate division between two division between two parts of question is one third/two parts of question is one third/two thirdsthirds

Assessment of group effectiveness is Assessment of group effectiveness is core of second part of questioncore of second part of question

You will be given credit for examining You will be given credit for examining methodological problems of methodological problems of assessing effectivenessassessing effectiveness

PGs and democracy – in favourPGs and democracy – in favour

Additional route for political Additional route for political participation, allowing citizens to participation, allowing citizens to develop political skillsdevelop political skills

Increasing sense of involvement in Increasing sense of involvement in politics and responsiveness of politics and responsiveness of process, reducing alienationprocess, reducing alienation

May counter political exclusion at a May counter political exclusion at a time when more conventional forms time when more conventional forms of participation are decliningof participation are declining

PGs and Democracy – in favour (2)PGs and Democracy – in favour (2)

Allow diversity of opinions to be Allow diversity of opinions to be expressed which is important as expressed which is important as society becomes more diverse – society becomes more diverse – more ‘fine grained’ views than those more ‘fine grained’ views than those of political partiesof political parties

Allow the intensity of opinions to be Allow the intensity of opinions to be expressed so that democracy is more expressed so that democracy is more than a ‘head counting’ exercisethan a ‘head counting’ exercise

PGs and democracy – in favour (3)PGs and democracy – in favour (3)

Provide information to government Provide information to government about public concerns – conduit of about public concerns – conduit of informationinformation

Provide expertise not easily available Provide expertise not easily available to government or only at to government or only at disproportionate cost, leading to disproportionate cost, leading to better decision-makingbetter decision-making

Consistent with basic democratic Consistent with basic democratic norm of freedom of associationnorm of freedom of association

PGs and democracy – against (1)PGs and democracy – against (1)

Extent of participation is often very Extent of participation is often very limited in both quantity and qualitylimited in both quantity and quality

Involvement may just be financialInvolvement may just be financial May be motivated by selective May be motivated by selective

incentivesincentives Membership often very passiveMembership often very passive No greater engagement with civil No greater engagement with civil

societysociety

PGs and democracy – against (2)PGs and democracy – against (2)

Groups often lack internal Groups often lack internal democracy, very hierarchical, run democracy, very hierarchical, run almost as businessesalmost as businesses

Hence opportunities for participation Hence opportunities for participation may be limitedmay be limited

Over represent educated and Over represent educated and affluent, hence increase rather than affluent, hence increase rather than decrease political exclusiondecrease political exclusion

PGs and democracy – against (3)PGs and democracy – against (3)

May be fronts for business activities, May be fronts for business activities, a lack of transparencya lack of transparency

Patient groups are coy about how Patient groups are coy about how much money they receive from much money they receive from pharmaceutical companies, but at pharmaceutical companies, but at least half doleast half do

Lobbying for (expensive) drugs sold Lobbying for (expensive) drugs sold by companies to treat particular by companies to treat particular conditionsconditions

PGs and democracy – against (4)PGs and democracy – against (4)

Fragment the political process, Fragment the political process, especially ‘single issue’ groupsespecially ‘single issue’ groups

Arouse expectations that cannot be Arouse expectations that cannot be met, fuelling cynicismmet, fuelling cynicism

Do not aggregate demands – do not Do not aggregate demands – do not have choose between priorities or have choose between priorities or consider opportunity costs of policiesconsider opportunity costs of policies

Summary of concernsSummary of concerns

Using language of Gerry StokerUsing language of Gerry Stoker Participatory failure – not engaging Participatory failure – not engaging

many citizens effectivelymany citizens effectively Reinforcement of (social) biasReinforcement of (social) bias Undermining effective governance by Undermining effective governance by

increasing polarisationincreasing polarisation See book chapter on website for See book chapter on website for

elaboration of these argumentselaboration of these arguments

How can we categorise pressure How can we categorise pressure groups?groups?

Insider/outsider groups cuts across Insider/outsider groups cuts across traditional sectional/cause distinction traditional sectional/cause distinction arguing that was helpful but arguing that was helpful but insufficientinsufficient

Insider groups recognised as Insider groups recognised as legitimate by governmentlegitimate by government

But had to abide by rules of the But had to abide by rules of the political game which imposed political game which imposed constraintsconstraints

Outsider groupsOutsider groups

A more disparate categoryA more disparate category Include ‘would be’ insider groups, Include ‘would be’ insider groups,

outsider groups by necessityoutsider groups by necessity Ideological or protest groups who do Ideological or protest groups who do

not want to be drawn into embrace not want to be drawn into embrace of governmentof government

Implication of typology that insider Implication of typology that insider groups more likely to succeed – but groups more likely to succeed – but not alwaysnot always

Aberdeen Group modify typologyAberdeen Group modify typology

Core insiders dealing with a broad Core insiders dealing with a broad range of issuesrange of issues

Specialist insiders in policy nichesSpecialist insiders in policy niches Peripheral insiders, little influencePeripheral insiders, little influence

Criticisms of typologyCriticisms of typology

One can pursue both strategies One can pursue both strategies simultaneously – Greenpeacesimultaneously – Greenpeace

But does set up tensions within a But does set up tensions within a group, Greenpeace very hierarchical group, Greenpeace very hierarchical and hence can control themand hence can control them

In some areas now insider and In some areas now insider and outsider groups – National Farmers outsider groups – National Farmers Union and Farmers for ActionUnion and Farmers for Action

Easy to become an insiderEasy to become an insider

Insider groups number outsiders by Insider groups number outsiders by 9:19:1

Not that hard to be placed on a Not that hard to be placed on a consultation list. Blair Govt. has consultation list. Blair Govt. has consultation codeconsultation code

Internet lowers costs of formation, Internet lowers costs of formation, mobilisation and involvementmobilisation and involvement

Being involved in consultation is not Being involved in consultation is not same as real access to policy makerssame as real access to policy makers

Most important criticismMost important criticism

Nature of politics has changed, Nature of politics has changed, leading to changes in nature of leading to changes in nature of pressure group activitypressure group activity

Outsider groups becoming more Outsider groups becoming more successful, hence undermining one successful, hence undermining one of key points of distinctionof key points of distinction

Growth of direct actionGrowth of direct action