Chapter 1.3 Pressure groups and other influences Flashcards Preview

Politics: Component 1: Part 1 UK Politics > Chapter 1.3 Pressure groups and other influences > Flashcards

Flashcards in Chapter 1.3 Pressure groups and other influences Deck (60)
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1
Q

What is a pressure group?

A

An association whose interest is to promote a particular cause by influencing the government, the public or both. They can be formal or informal.

2
Q

What are the three main types of pressure groups?

A
  • Sectional Groups
  • Cause Groups
  • Social Movements
3
Q

What is a Sectional Group?

A

A sectional group is a pressure group which promotes the interests of a particular section of society.

4
Q

Which group is an example of a Sectional Group?

A

The Law Society. It is only open to solicitors in England and Wales

5
Q

What is a Cause Group?

A

A Cause Group is a pressure group that focuses on achieving a particular goal or drawing attention to an issue.

6
Q

What is the membership of Sectional Groups like?

A

They tend to have a restricted membership and entry is based on specific requirements.

7
Q

Which group is an example of a Cause Group?

A

The Greenpeace. They promote awareness of environmental concerns and try to influence the government to adopt “green” causes.

8
Q

What is the membership of a Cause Group like?

A

Membership is usually open to anyone who sympathises with their cause.

9
Q

What is a Social Movement?

A

A Social Movement is similar to cause groups but is loosely structured. They are usually politically radical and seek to achieve a single objective.

10
Q

What is an example of a Social Movement?

A

The Black Lives Matter movement. It began in 2013 after the acquittal of police officer Zimmerman in the fatal
shooting of Treyvon Martin, an African-American teen.

BLM movement seek to bring awareness to police brutality and racially-motivated violence against black people.

11
Q

What is another way to categorise pressure groups?

A

By looking at the nature of their relationship with the government. Pressure groups can either be Insider or Outsider groups.

12
Q

What are Insider Groups?

A

Insider Groups are pressure groups that enjoy close access to government agencies and officials.

13
Q

How do Insider Groups enjoy close access to government agencies?

A

Since they tend to have objectives broadly in line with government views, Insider Groups have strong links with lawmakers and are regularly consulted

14
Q

Which group is a low-profile insider group?

A

Howard League for Penal Reform, they’re a charity working for less crimes, safer communities and fewer inmates.

They rely on behind the scenes contact rather than seeking publicity.

15
Q

Which group is a high-profile insider group?

A

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is an organisation that work to promote business interests. They use the media to make their case.

16
Q

What are Outsider Groups?

A

They are pressure groups not consulted by the government due to the extremity of their aims or methods.

17
Q

What are the subcategories of Outsider Groups?

A
  • Potential Outsider - these have the potential to be insider status but are not e.g. Amnesty International UK
  • Outsider by Necessity - Lack the political knowledge and skill to be come insider
  • Ideological Outsider - Have radical views that are incompatible with the government and mainstream politics e.g. EDL
18
Q

What example is there that proves the government can benefit from Insider Groups?

A

The British Medical Association is composed of skilled medical practitioners. The government can gain insight about the satisfaction of junior doctors, the stability of the NHS, etc.

The government enjoy the benefit of the BMA’s specialised knowledge in return for influence over policy.

19
Q

Which methods may Insider Groups use?

A

Offer specialised knowledge to government in return for influence over policy or lobby MPs, briefing them on issues of concern.

20
Q

Which methods may Outsider Groups use?

A

Lacking contact to government, they may try to exercise influence through email campaigns, petitions, demonstrations or publicity stunts

E.g members of Extinction Rebellion glued themselves to a railway train in 2019 to protest pollution

21
Q

What is a pressure group’s choice of methods determined by?

A

Largely by the resources available and by its status as an insider or outsider group

22
Q

Which direct forms of action have proven to not be peaceful?

A
  • Some of those who took part in the 2010 student demonstrations against increased university fees were prosecuted for disorderly conduct.
  • Legal challenges against policies. The Countryside Alliance took its case against the banning of fox hunting to the High Court in 2004.
23
Q

Why might groups use insider and outsider methods?

A

The nature of the issue and the degree by which the government is willing to respond may warrant “insider” or “outsider” methods being used.

24
Q

Why is it hard to gauge the success of insider groups?

A

They do not usually publicise their achievements to avoid offending their government contacts

25
Q

What factors are relevant in the effectiveness of pressure group activity?

A
  • Resources
  • Tactics and Leadership
  • Public support
  • Insider or Outsider Status
26
Q

How do resources affect the effectiveness of pressure group activity?

A

A large membership who pay subscriptions means that a group is likely to have the finance to run offices, pay staff and organise publicity

90% of Labour funding come from trade unions

27
Q

Why might the large membership of a pressure group be effective to their cause?

A

It can help in persuading the government that it reflects a significant section of public opinion

28
Q

What example is there that proves the membership size of a pressure group may not always be effective for their cause?

A

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament had about 110,000 members in the mid-1980s but Thatcher’s government risked ignoring their demonstrations due to the passive support of the majority population

29
Q

How does tactics and leadership affect the effectiveness of pressure group activity?

A

Pressure groups like CBI can threaten to relocate businesses if economic conditions are not to their liking

30
Q

How does public support affect the effectiveness of pressure group activity?

A

The government may not want to alienate large numbers of the public who may make up or influence a significant amount of the electorate

In 2000, the Fuel Tax protestors forced the Chancellor to lower the level of petrol due to widespread support

31
Q

How does Insider or Outsider status affect the effectiveness of pressure group activity?

A

• Insider groups have close contact with the government, so are able to influence policies and legislation.

However, this may lead to the Insider group being strung along or having to “dim down” their aspirations to please the government.

32
Q

How can the media affect the effectiveness of pressure group activity?

A

The media’s portrayal of that particular pressure group can massively influence public opinion and attitudes about that pressure group

33
Q

Case Study. Who is Joanna Lumley?

A

She’s a TV celebrity whose support for retired Gurkha soldiers was important in overturning a government ban on their right to live in the UK.

34
Q

Case Study. What was the Occupy London Movement?

A

Occupy London was a movement for social justice and real democracy in London,

35
Q

[Case Study] How did the BMA smoking campaign begin?

A

After a failed and unpopular attempt to pressure the government into outright banning smoking in cars, the BMA instead campaigned for the prohibition of smoking when child passengers were involved.

They were supported by other pressure groups, Asthma UK.

36
Q

[Case Study] What tactics were used by the BMA when campaigning for the ban of smoking in a car with children?

A

They used online technology to lobby for support and made its case in the House of Lords

37
Q

[Case Study] What were the results of the BMA campaign to ban smoking in cars when minors are involved?

A

An amendment to the 2014 Children and Families Bill was made and the ban came into force in October 2015.

38
Q

[Case Study] Why was the BMA campaign to ban smoking in cars when minors are involved successful?

A

They were resourceful in mobilising support and using the parliamentary process.

Public opinion and the government were willing to protect children as a vulnerable group.

39
Q

[Case Study] Why was it good that the BMA changed their goal from outright banning smoking in cars to only banning smoking in cars when children were involved?

A

People would have seen a total ban of smoking in cars as an unnecessary intrusion into people’s private lives.

The change made the BMA seem cooperative not only with the government, but also the public.

40
Q

[Case Study] What is the Occupy London Movement?

A

An international movement for social justice and real democracy in the UK

41
Q

[Case Study] What tactics did the Occupy London Movement use?

A

In October 2011, they camped outside of the St Paul’s Cathedral in London, until they were evicted by order of the High Court four months later.

42
Q

What was the Occupy London Movement protesting about in October 2011?

A

They were protesting corporate greed in the City of London, which they held responsible for social inequality

43
Q

Why wasn’t the Occupy London Movement successful in obtaining long-lasting results?

A

Fundamentally, the movement’s objectives were too broad. They represented a general hostility to global capitalism but did not have any practical goals.

44
Q

Although social media helped to bring people together quickly, why was the Occupy London Movement still unsuccessful?

A

The movement lacked the ability to channel its opposition towards capitalism into practical political ability.

45
Q

Who are Think Tanks?

A

A body of experts brought together to investigate and offer solutions to economic, social or political issues

46
Q

How has Think Tanks influenced the government?

A

The Conservative’s Party free-market oriented approach in the 1970s is due to Thatcher’s patronage of of right-wing think tanks like the Adam Smith Institute

47
Q

What is the Adam Smith Institute?

A

A neoliberal think thank that emphasises on using free markets to end poverty

48
Q

What critiques of think thanks exist?

A

Think thanks lack the academic rigour expected in university circles

49
Q

Who are think thanks staffed by?

A

Young, ambitious individuals who see their time there as a springboard to a political career

E.g. David Miliband went from working at a centre-left think thank to eventually becoming a senior minister in the New Labour governments

50
Q

What is a lobbyist?

A

A person who takes part in an organised attempt to influence legislators

51
Q

What is the purpose of lobbyists?

A

To gain influence on behalf of clients who are seeking access to government in order to influence legislation that affects their client’s interest

52
Q

Where does the word “lobby” derive from?

A

It derives from the hallways of the House of Parliament, where people would meet their MPs to ask for help in the past

53
Q

Why have lobbyists been criticised?

A

Many people dislike the idea that influence can be bought by wealthy individuals and organisations

54
Q

What does the parliamentary code of conduct forbid MPs from doing?

A

Accepting money for agreeing to represent a viewpoint

55
Q

How did the government try and regulate lobbying in 2014?

A

The government made it a legal requirement for lobbyists to register if their activities include discussing policy or legislation with a minister or senior civil servant.

56
Q

Why weren’t people satisfied with the 2014 legal requirement for lobbyists?

A

They expected and wanted greater transparency

57
Q

`What are corporations?

A

A legal entity of business

58
Q

What is the “revolving door” process and why does it make people suspicious of corporations?

A

It’s when politicians take well-paid jobs in the private sector after they leave government service

  • People suspect that they use their knowledge to benefit the interest of these corporations
  • Numerous business leaders have become ministers by being appointed to the House of Lord
59
Q

Why is there fear of corporations lobbying?

A

Powerful corporations may lobby the government in an attempt to modify policies that affect their business interests

60
Q

What do pluralists believe about society and pressure groups?

A

They believe society is made up of competing pressure groups who compete with each other for influence over decision makers.

Not one pressure group dominates.