Pressure groups
Explain and analyse 3 functions of pressure groups. (9)
P – participation.
Ex – between elections, retain communication with MP, can offer routes into politics.
Ev – Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty, appointed as a member to the HoL for Lab. 2016.
An – reinforce inequalities, CBI rep businesses, advantage in finance & relaxed over membership.
P – representation.
Ex – aggregate/articulate common interest, represent specific ones opposed to ‘catch-all’ parties.
Ev – SPUC, represent those who oppose abortion, none of the main political parties do.
An – no effective political voice, business groups dominate. Crisis do not represent favourable things.
P – education.
Ex – specialist knowledge, help government by avoiding costly mistakes, help educate public.
Ev – BMA library of books, journals and articles, public can access and issue briefings to MPs/peers.
An – misleading/selective data. Taxpayers’ Alliance used it to support lower taxes & public spending.
Explain and analyse 3 criticisms of the typologies of pressure groups. (9)
P – sectional/cause groups.
Ex – categorise groups w aims, or issues not of benefit to members, many groups don’t neatly fit.
Ev – Greenpeace’s anti-nuclear power campaign, fails those for nuclear power, newer reduce carbon.
An – narrow focus, develop deep expertise on issue, NUT reps’ teachers, effectively lobby.
P – insider.
Ex – close relationships w policymakers, elite captured, so their interests are overrepresented.
Ev – BMA criticised, failing to consider patients/public, policies at the expense of public health.
An – direct access, CBI have access to gov ministers & can provide input on econ. Policy decisions.
P – outsider.
Ex – by necessity, not able to regularly consult, barriers of access, limit ability to policy decisions.
Ev – Occupy London, protest camp outside St Paul’s Cathedral but most of their demands unmet.
An – mobilize public opinion, Friends of the Earth, public demonstrations to build support.
, Pressure groups
Explain and analyse 3 reasons for being insider pressure groups. (9)
P – gain access.
Ex – to policymakers, insider seen as more legit than outside, viewed as knowledgeable/informed.
Ev – CBI, rep 190,000 businesses, access gov officials at all levels like PM & senior cabinet ministers.
An – Shelter, insider that does not have access to gov officials, can still influence though.
P – resources/expertise.
Ex – data, research & expertise, competitive advantage, make informed arguments, media visibility.
Ev – National Farmers’ Union, leading lobbying group, resources/expertise on agricultural issues.
An – Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, lack significant financial resources or expertise.
P – influence.
Ex – collab/compromise, insider better to work w stakeholders, build broad coalitions of support.
Ev – The Association of British Insurers, track record of collabs to shape insurance-related legislation.
An – Royal Society of Arts, respected rep but lack expertise to influence policy outcomes nationally.
Explain and analyse 3 reasons for being outsider pressure groups (9)
P – lack of access.
Ex – due to lack of resources, expertise or connections, views not aligned with those in power.
Ev – Extinction Rebellion, gained public attention but struggled to gain access to policymakers.
An – BLM, outsider but secure meetings w/ UK gov officials like Home Sec & Mayor of London.
P – mobilising public opinion.
Ex – protests, demonstrations & media campaign, effective when having broad public support.
Ev – Stop the War coalition, largest public demonstration ever 2003, drew 2 million people.
An – Just Stop Oil, tactics create hostility when it impacted people’s day-to-day lives.
P – challenge status quo.
Ex – promote systemic change, confrontational approach to advocacy, civil disobedience.
Ev – Reclaim These Streets, challenges status quo of patriarchal society, advocates change towards
women’s safety & equality.
An – EDL, opposes Islam, largely unsuccessful, diverse/multicultural society in the UK.
Explain and analyse 3 functions of pressure groups. (9)
P – participation.
Ex – between elections, retain communication with MP, can offer routes into politics.
Ev – Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty, appointed as a member to the HoL for Lab. 2016.
An – reinforce inequalities, CBI rep businesses, advantage in finance & relaxed over membership.
P – representation.
Ex – aggregate/articulate common interest, represent specific ones opposed to ‘catch-all’ parties.
Ev – SPUC, represent those who oppose abortion, none of the main political parties do.
An – no effective political voice, business groups dominate. Crisis do not represent favourable things.
P – education.
Ex – specialist knowledge, help government by avoiding costly mistakes, help educate public.
Ev – BMA library of books, journals and articles, public can access and issue briefings to MPs/peers.
An – misleading/selective data. Taxpayers’ Alliance used it to support lower taxes & public spending.
Explain and analyse 3 criticisms of the typologies of pressure groups. (9)
P – sectional/cause groups.
Ex – categorise groups w aims, or issues not of benefit to members, many groups don’t neatly fit.
Ev – Greenpeace’s anti-nuclear power campaign, fails those for nuclear power, newer reduce carbon.
An – narrow focus, develop deep expertise on issue, NUT reps’ teachers, effectively lobby.
P – insider.
Ex – close relationships w policymakers, elite captured, so their interests are overrepresented.
Ev – BMA criticised, failing to consider patients/public, policies at the expense of public health.
An – direct access, CBI have access to gov ministers & can provide input on econ. Policy decisions.
P – outsider.
Ex – by necessity, not able to regularly consult, barriers of access, limit ability to policy decisions.
Ev – Occupy London, protest camp outside St Paul’s Cathedral but most of their demands unmet.
An – mobilize public opinion, Friends of the Earth, public demonstrations to build support.
, Pressure groups
Explain and analyse 3 reasons for being insider pressure groups. (9)
P – gain access.
Ex – to policymakers, insider seen as more legit than outside, viewed as knowledgeable/informed.
Ev – CBI, rep 190,000 businesses, access gov officials at all levels like PM & senior cabinet ministers.
An – Shelter, insider that does not have access to gov officials, can still influence though.
P – resources/expertise.
Ex – data, research & expertise, competitive advantage, make informed arguments, media visibility.
Ev – National Farmers’ Union, leading lobbying group, resources/expertise on agricultural issues.
An – Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, lack significant financial resources or expertise.
P – influence.
Ex – collab/compromise, insider better to work w stakeholders, build broad coalitions of support.
Ev – The Association of British Insurers, track record of collabs to shape insurance-related legislation.
An – Royal Society of Arts, respected rep but lack expertise to influence policy outcomes nationally.
Explain and analyse 3 reasons for being outsider pressure groups (9)
P – lack of access.
Ex – due to lack of resources, expertise or connections, views not aligned with those in power.
Ev – Extinction Rebellion, gained public attention but struggled to gain access to policymakers.
An – BLM, outsider but secure meetings w/ UK gov officials like Home Sec & Mayor of London.
P – mobilising public opinion.
Ex – protests, demonstrations & media campaign, effective when having broad public support.
Ev – Stop the War coalition, largest public demonstration ever 2003, drew 2 million people.
An – Just Stop Oil, tactics create hostility when it impacted people’s day-to-day lives.
P – challenge status quo.
Ex – promote systemic change, confrontational approach to advocacy, civil disobedience.
Ev – Reclaim These Streets, challenges status quo of patriarchal society, advocates change towards
women’s safety & equality.
An – EDL, opposes Islam, largely unsuccessful, diverse/multicultural society in the UK.
