An Introduction to Pressure Groups What are Pressure Groups? How are traditional pressure groups and political parties similar/different?

Head and Heart response; write on your whiteboards what thoughts and words and what you think might be going on in the following images….

Now explain… What is going on in these images? Who was involved? Were they successful? Why/why not? Are they a pressure group? What is a pressure group? What are the functions of pressure groups?

What is a pressure group? Groups consisting of members of the public Can be local, national or international Cover the whole spectrum of policy issues Formed to influence public policy Defensive, campaigning and voluntary groups

What is a pressure group? An organised group which has as one of its purposes the need to exert influence or pure pressure on political institutions for the purpose of seeking a favorable decision or preventing an unfavorable one. they seek influence rather than political power and are outside rather than inside the government.

Basic Categorisation Pressure Groups can be categorized in the following ways, Interest/Sectional groups or Promotional/Cause/Issue Groups. And they can be either Insider or Outsider Groups. They operate within Pluralist government systems.

New Social Movements More recently there has been an increase in N.S.M's or New Social Movements. which appear as a reaction to a specific issue of importance and usually disappear when the issue is over, such as Make Poverty History

New social movements Feminism Environmentalism Anti-nuclear Peace Third world Gay liberation Each encompassing many individual pressure groups essentially large-scale mobilizations around single issues reflect a generally greater readiness to engage in ‘direct’ or ‘unconventional’ action: marches – demonstrations – donations – sit-ins – protest-actions – media events Unorganized Issues normally ignored by conventional institutions Focus on change in public awareness Explanations: structural shift, value shift

How do Parties and Pressure Groups differ? If successful will often have achieved their aim and have no further raison d’etre (reason to exist) Focus on one single- issue or a narrow range of issues. Organised to fight campaigns Organised to fight elections Appeal to voters on all issues Seek to influence government policy If successful will grow and have a long term future Seek to win governmental power

How do Parties and Pressure Groups differ? Political parties Pressure groups Seek to win governmental power Seek to influence government policy Appeal to voters on all issues Focus on one single- issue or a narrow range of issues. Organised to fight elections Organised to fight campaigns If successful will grow and have a long term future If successful will have achieved their aim and have no further raison d’etre (reason to exist)