Do pressure groups enhance democracy

Do pressure groups enhance democracy

1. Supporters of pressure groups claim that they enhance pluralism in our democracy

   • Making our democratic system more effective

2. Some political scientists claim that many organised groups can undermine the policy making process

3. Too many groups are undemocratically organised

   • Power can reside with people with little or no claim to democratic legitimacy

4. Groups have non-legitimate power because they are un-elected

5. Oligarchic power structure

   • Internal democracy may be lacking in many groups
     • Providing only weak direct accountability

6. Membership of groups is often drawn from a arrow middle-class elite

7. Unequal distribution of resources and influence between groups

   • Cumulative inequalities between groups are widening as some groups are more effective than others

8. Many groups represent narrow sectional (vested) interests

9. Pressure groups encourage unrealistic expectations among the electorate of what government can do

   • Leading in the long run to growing disillusionment with modern politics
     • leading to a decline in voter turnout and engagement in the political process