what are pressure groups?

A pressure group is an organised group that seeks to influence government (public) policy or protect or advance a particular cause or interest. Groups may promote a specific issue and raise it up the political agenda or they may have more general political and ideological objectives in mind when they campaign.

Pressure groups operate at
Local
Sub National (Regional)
National
International level (including European Union)

PRESSURE GROUPS AND POLITICAL PARTIES

Pressure Groups are different from Political Parties

(1) Different structures and objectives
Parties seek representation and power whereas groups in the main seek political influence. Parties often focus on the national interest whereas groups may be concerned with sectional issues / single issues

(2) Which of these differences are most important?
There is inevitably some overlap in functions and roles of groups and parties!
Importance of political participation at all levels
Many smaller parties fight elections but have no realistic hope of achieving political power
Some organizational and funding links between some groups and political parties

SECTIONAL INTEREST GROUPS

Represent common interests of a particular section of society Membership is often closed / restricted Sectional groups seek to represent the majority of their particular group of members Members of the group often stand to gain personally from the success of their campaigns

Sectional groups might include; TUC, the Confederation of British Industry, the Institute of Directors, British Medical Association, Federation of Small Businesses, National Farmers Union, the Law Society

Royal British Legion, Association of Radical Midwives, British Road Federation, Chambers of Commerce, Society of Motor Manufacturers, Magistrates Association, Chief Superintendants Association

Freight Transport Association, Country Landowners, Musicians Union, British Nuclear Test Veterans', Association Royal College of Surgeons

CAUSAL PRESSURE GROUPS

Causal groups often promote a particular set of economic / politics objectives or ideas. These objectives may not be directly linked to the people who support / are actively involved with the group. Causa groups tend to have an open membership – seeking to gain a critical mass of popular support and campaigning strength.

It is important not to confuse mass membership with political influence – many small causal groups have significant political clout. Members of these causal groups are often driven by a very strong desire to initiate change or change society’s attitudes

Welfare Causal Groups

Shelter, Low Pay Unit, Child Poverty Action Group, National Association on Mental Health

Fair Trade, Action on Smoking & Health, LIBERTY, NACRO, Victims of Abortion

Age Concern, Prison Reform Trust, Outrage, War on Want

NSPCC, National AbortionCampaign, Families Need Fathers, Women against Rape

Environmental Causal Groups

Greenpeace, FOE, Countryside Alliance, WWF, Campaign for Preservation of Rural England

Living Earth, Ramblers, Pedestrians Association, RSPB,

Compassion in World Farming, Reclaim the Streets, Transport 2000, British Trees Earth First

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