A2 External Influences TOPIC: Pressure Group Activity

Many different viewpoints are represented by pressure groups.

Pressure groups Definition: An organisation formed by people with a common interest or shared goal, who join together to further their interests or achieve their goals by putting pressure on the general public, governments or businesses. Two main types: 1. Single issue - e.g. a group against a road or building project 2. Ongoing concerns Greenpeace demonstration against ESSO

Ongoing concern pressure groups Environmental groups e.g Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth Employee groups e.g. Trade Unions Consumer groups e.g. Consumer’s Association Animal rights e.g. PETA Human Rights groups e.g. Amnesty International Employer groups e.g. Confederation of British Industry

Activities of pressure groups - What do they do? Lobbying politicians and other influential people (lobbying involves putting a viewpoint across to influential people such as MPs) Boycotting products (persuading consumers to not buy) Publicity activities to attract media attention and alert general public (e.g. demonstrations, published articles in the press) Organising demonstrations Direct action - passive to actual damage (e.g. releasing animals from testing facilities) to threatening employees and owners

How far should pressure groups go?

Pressure group often recruit celebrities to make the cause known to the public and create a favourable image. Examples include Chris Martin of Coldplay supporting Fair Trade and Thom Yorke opposite.

Example pressure groups Greenpeace – environmental issues Trade unions e.g. Fire Brigade Union – represent workers rights People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Which? – protect consumers by providing information to consumers about products and services e.g. magazine, web-site and campaign and lobby POINTS TO CONSIDER: Which of the pressure groups discussed do you feel is the most influential? Why? What makes them successful? Which of the pressure groups would you support and why? Do you feel any of the pressure groups actions have been too extreme?

Characteristics of successful pressure groups Financial resources for public relations (PR) activities A good reputation Public sympathy for its cause Access to politicians Access to the media

Pressure group as a stakeholder The ideal for a pressure group is to become a valued stakeholder of a business The pressure group must convince a business it represents the views of the people affected by the actions of the business.

Possible responses to pressure group activity Business can respond to pressure group activities in a range of ways including: Companies agreeing to change Companies resisting pressure group demands The government imposing change by passing new laws The public changing its approach

Different perspectives When discussing ethics we looked at BP building a pipeline through Eastern Europe. BP spoke about the pipeline and its efforts to be socially responsible in its construction (page 405) Look at The Friends of the Earth article which is a less favourable perspective (page 429) Task: In pairs read both articles and compare the different perspectives (10 minutes) Should the construction go ahead? Is BP being ethical and socially responsible? Picture taken from BP web-site, 2006

Student Activity Read the case study on page 430 of the A2 AQA textbook Using the case study and the knowledge you have gained so far answer the following question Fully justify answers: (25-30 minutes) 1. To what extent do pressure groups ensure that the ‘right’ business decisions are made?(12 marks) 2. What made the animal rights pressure group successful at influencing drug companies? (8 marks)

Practice Unit 6 Exam Question Consider the arguments for and against the use of direct action by pressure groups campaigning against experiments on animals (12 marks) This question requires fully application, analysis and evaluation

Possible answers Direct action may alienate the general public, support may be lost for the cause May result in legal action against pressure group This may limit the success of the campaign Direct action frequently successful in attracting media attention, especially with emotive issues such cruelty to animals Pressure groups rely on publicity Companies may be frustrated in their trading activities by direct action This may cause the m to change their policies