January 2012: Pressure Groups

January 2012: Pressure Groups

1. How do pressure groups promote functional representation?

   • It is alleged that in a representative democracy where political parties aggregate their polices and water down their creeds it is beneficial that pressure groups can speak on behalf of the specific and the unique. Thus promoting functional representation
   • It is therefore operatively beneficial that pressure groups break out (or supplement) the constraints of representative democracy and function to articulate the needs of the minority.
   • These minorities may be linked to economic interests, hence business pressure groups speak on behalf of employers and owners and trade unions on behalf of workers. Again this is beneficial for functional representation
   • Functional representation can be promoted by representation of demographic groups and also minority opinion.
   • Building on the above they widen the democratic framework and air specialised needs.

2. Explain three factors which may restrict the influence of a pressure group.

   • A Government in power which is hostile to the pressure groups aims, an example would be the current governments stance to student groups upon the raising of student fees
   • Hostile public opinion can restrict pressure group power, Muslim groups who sought to protest at the Afghan War at Wotton Basset met with widespread public hostility.
   • A lack of finance may restrict power or curtail the pressure groups cause. In recent years some environmental groups have seen their income fall as the recession has caused their funds to decrease.
   • A lack of experts and efficient leaders may stall the power base of a pressure group.
   • Similarly a lack of recruited members can stall a pressure groups as it fails to get recruits to volunteer and publicise its message to a wider audience.
   • A restrictive factor may be the strength of opposition groups, for example the Countryside Alliance versus the League Against Cruel Sports.

3. Are pressure groups becoming more powerful, or less powerful?

   • More Powerful
     • Turnout in all types of election continue to fall as citizens turn away from elections as a means of participation instead they turn to pressure groups to articulate their demands.
     • Associated with this is the fall in popularity of political parties whose membership has plummeted: the public are instead joining pressure groups and this numerical increase adds weight and salience to their causes
     • Improved communications have allowed pressure groups to advertise their cause via avenues such as the internet this raises the profile of certain groups and their message
     • Improved openings or access points at various tiers of government open opportunities, here we can consider routes as power has devolved to areas where power has been transferred the EU and G20
   • Less Powerful
     • Turnout is not necessarily an indicator of dissatisfaction with the public more a sign of contentment.
     • Political parties still marshal the vote at elections pressure groups influence but do not control this vital arena
     • Governments hold power and are the ultimate decision maker, they may listen to pressure groups but in the end governments decide
     • This above can be linked to the fall in corporatism with the Thatcher government since 1979
     • Hence we all too often see pressure groups fail in their attempts to change or block governments, the Hunting Ban, the War in Iraq, the introduction of (and the rise) in Student Tuition fees, the continuance of animal experimentation etc.