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

Social movements may not have a Social movements may not have a formal structure and are usually formal structure and are usually united by ideas not interestsunited by ideas not 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 oftens to aggregate interests, groups oftens 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 organisationsorganisations

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 clearIs the meaning of categories clear Can you fond what you want quickly Can you fond 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 recentlyHas it been updated recently

PGs and democracy – in favourPGs and democracy – in favour

Additional route for political Additional route for political participationparticipation

Allow diversity of views to be Allow diversity of views to be expressed in way that is more fine expressed in way that is more fine grained than parties – more grained than parties – more important as society becomes more important as society becomes more diversediverse

Allow intensity of opinions to be Allow intensity of opinions to be expressedexpressed

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

Provide information to government Provide information to government about public concernsabout public concerns

Provide expertise not easily available Provide expertise not easily available to government or only at to government or only at disproportionate costdisproportionate cost

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

PGs and democracy - againstPGs and democracy - against

Who do they represent? Often lack Who do they represent? Often lack internal democracyinternal democracy

Membership often passive, join for Membership often passive, join for selective benefitsselective benefits

Fragment political process, only Fragment political process, only interested in own demandsinterested in own demands

Over represent education and Over represent education and affluent, increase political exclusionaffluent, increase political exclusion

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 typolgyCriticisms of typolgy

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 can control of themand can control of 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

Growing dissatisfaction with results Growing dissatisfaction with results of conventional politicsof conventional politics

More fragmented society makes More fragmented society makes identity politics more importantidentity politics more important

Technology aids mobilisation: Technology aids mobilisation: internet and mobile phoneinternet and mobile phone

Imitation effectsImitation effects

Recent literature (1)Recent literature (1)

Baggott, Baggott, Speaking for Patients and Speaking for Patients and Carers Carers 20052005

Depts. becoming more accessibleDepts. becoming more accessible Using restrained language still Using restrained language still

important – no emotionimportant – no emotion Dept. of Health disliked Dept. of Health disliked

confrontational groupsconfrontational groups One group excluded for causing One group excluded for causing

troubletrouble

Recent literature (2)Recent literature (2)

Ministers worked more closely with Ministers worked more closely with groups that shared aimsgroups that shared aims

Groups that had insider status more Groups that had insider status more likely to report example of influencelikely to report example of influence

Not hard to gain insider status, but Not hard to gain insider status, but core status crucialcore status crucial

Govt. able to manipulate and control Govt. able to manipulate and control groups, offer small concessions in groups, offer small concessions in return for compliancereturn for compliance

Recent literature (3)Recent literature (3)

Anne Binderkrantz, ‘Interest Group Anne Binderkrantz, ‘Interest Group Strategies’, Strategies’, Political Studies, Political Studies, Decemb Decemb 2005, 53 (4), 694-7152005, 53 (4), 694-715

Uses Danish evidence and multiple Uses Danish evidence and multiple regression to distinguish four types regression to distinguish four types of strategyof strategy

Groups utilise a wide repertoire of Groups utilise a wide repertoire of tactics and strategiestactics and strategies