Pressure groups Lecture 1

What do we mean by a p/group?  ‘The field of organized groups possessing both formal structure and real common interests in so far as they influence the decisions of public bodies’ (W J M Mackenzie)  Some group activity directed at private bodies, but still relatively limited  Social movements may not have a formal structure and are usually united by ideas not interests

Differ from parties  Party wants to win control of government or at least a share of office to implement policies  Parties are broad coalitions that have to aggregate interests, groups often single issue  Parties run candidates in elections, but note ‘interest parties’

Social movements approach (1)  Literature in sociology  Represent people with an outsider orientation  Seek to change elements in the existing power structure  Often use direct action methods  Opposed to conventional power politics

Social movements approach (2)  Do not want to influence state, want to act in civil society  Loosely defined organisational structure  Either lack clearly defined leadership or have charismatic leader  Often left of centre, lifestyle politics, but note petrol protests

Changing terminology  A search for ‘hurrah words’ to describe pressure or interest groups  Stakeholders – used by government and EU  Non-governmental organisations (originated with UN)  Campaigning groups  Advocacy groups

What’s in a name?  We don’t want to restrict your choice of group  You can study international organisations or from country other than UK – but need understanding  You can study direct action groups  Key consideration is feasibility – is there enough material  Step 1: check out web site

Web site design (1)  Does it download reasonably quickly?  Is the site design coherent?  Is it uncluttered?  Is the meaning of categories clear?  Can you find what you want quickly and easily?  How would the site appear to someone wanting to get involved?

Web site design (2)  Can you join on line or download a membership form?  Can you find out how to get involved in campaigns?  Are illustrations relevant and appealing?  Podcasts or videos?  Has it been updated recently?

Balance of question  Approximate division between two parts of question is one third/two thirds  Assessment of group effectiveness is core of second part of question  You will be given credit for examining methodological problems of assessing effectiveness

PGs and democracy – in favour  Additional route for political participation, allowing citizens to develop political skills  Increasing sense of involvement in politics and responsiveness of process, reducing alienation  May counter political exclusion at a time when more conventional forms of participation are declining

PGs and Democracy – in favour (2)  Allow diversity of opinions to be expressed which is important as society becomes more diverse – more ‘fine grained’ views than those of political parties  Allow the intensity of opinions to be expressed so that democracy is more than a ‘head counting’ exercise

PGs and democracy – in favour (3)  Provide information to government about public concerns – conduit of information  Provide expertise not easily available to government or only at disproportionate cost, leading to better decision-making  Consistent with basic democratic norm of freedom of association

PGs and democracy – against (1)  Extent of participation is often very limited in both quantity and quality  Involvement may just be financial  May be motivated by selective incentives  Membership often very passive  No greater engagement with civil society

PGs and democracy – against (2)  Groups often lack internal democracy, very hierarchical, run almost as businesses  Hence opportunities for participation may be limited  Over represent educated and affluent, hence increase rather than decrease political exclusion

PGs and democracy – against (3)  May be fronts for business activities, a lack of transparency  Patient groups are coy about how much money they receive from pharmaceutical companies, but at least half do  Lobbying for (expensive) drugs sold by companies to treat particular conditions

PGs and democracy – against (4)  Fragment the political process, especially ‘single issue’ groups  Arouse expectations that cannot be met, fuelling cynicism  Do not aggregate demands – do not have choose between priorities or consider opportunity costs of policies

Summary of concerns  Using language of Gerry Stoker  Participatory failure – not engaging many citizens effectively  Reinforcement of (social) bias  Undermining effective governance by increasing polarisation  See book chapter on website for elaboration of these arguments

How can we categorise pressure groups?  Insider/outsider groups cuts across traditional sectional/cause distinction arguing that was helpful but insufficient  Insider groups recognised as legitimate by government  But had to abide by rules of the political game which imposed constraints

Outsider groups  A more disparate category  Include ‘would be’ insider groups, outsider groups by necessity  Ideological or protest groups who do not want to be drawn into embrace of government  Implication of typology that insider groups more likely to succeed – but not always

Aberdeen Group modify typology  Core insiders dealing with a broad range of issues  Specialist insiders in policy niches  Peripheral insiders, little influence

Criticisms of typology  One can pursue both strategies simultaneously – Greenpeace  But does set up tensions within a group, Greenpeace very hierarchical and hence can control them  In some areas now insider and outsider groups – National Farmers Union and Farmers for Action

Easy to become an insider  Insider groups number outsiders by 9:1  Not that hard to be placed on a consultation list. Blair Govt. has consultation code  Internet lowers costs of formation, mobilisation and involvement  Being involved in consultation is not same as real access to policy makers

Most important criticism  Nature of politics has changed, leading to changes in nature of pressure group activity  Outsider groups becoming more successful, hence undermining one of key points of distinction  Growth of direct action