Pressure groups

1. Pressure groups Lecture 1 Dr Justin Greaves

2. What is a pressure group? • ‘A pressure group is an organization which seeks as one of its functions to influence the formulation and implementation of public policy’ (Grant 2000)

3. OR: • ‘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)

4. Changing times • But are such definitions out of date? • Some group activity now directed at private companies (see Grant and Greaves, 2005) • State has shed some of its functions, with public tasks being carried out by private providers EG: ‘retailer governance’

5. Targeting Tesco • Tescopoly is a coalition of eight environmental, women's, workers' and third world organisations • Groups include Friends of the Earth, the GMB union and War on Want

6. The campaign uses the slogan 'Every little hurts' in a play on the Tesco slogan 'Every little helps'

7. 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’

8. Social movements • Difficult to define – used in a vague way • In contrast to Mackenzie’s definition may not have a formal structure and are usually united by ideas not interests

9. Klandermans (1997) • ‘Social movements ...are populated by individuals sharing collective goals and a collective identity who engage in disruptive action’

10. Jordan (1998) • ‘There is a tendency to relabel any group using non-conventional strategies and tactics as social movements’

11. But distinction important • Literature important as reminds us pressure groups are only one way of bringing about change • Feminism one of the important social movements (impact on changing consciousness, family level, still few women legislators) • Many of its goals require political action • Pressure groups spring from it

12. Social movements: a summary • 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

13. Social movements: summary (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

14. Recent literature • ‘The new social movement literature has little space for reform-oriented single issue pressure groups which merely seek to change their bit of the world, and are reasonably comfortable with the state of society and politics as they find them – surely the operating rationale of so many voluntary organisations?’ (McKay and Hilton, 2009)

15. Think tanks • Grant’s definition encompasses think tanks even though they do not engage in lobbying • May have a close relationship with a political party, e.g. Fabian Society • Can be influential (e.g. IEA and Thatcherism, Adam Smith Institute and the poll tax)

16. Think tanks (2) • Demos has been proving influential • Here is a short video clip showing their engagement with politicians and others

17. Think tanks (3) • Think tanks seek to change the intellectual climate of opinion • Stone (1996) argued that the distinction between think tanks and interest groups has become blurred • She argues their impact is modest. ‘Policy making is mainly driven by interests, not by ideas’

18. 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

19. Your projects • Here is some advice which should come in helpful for your pressure group projects

20. What’s in a name? • We don’t want to restrict your choice of group • You can study UK, American, EU or home country organisation – but need understanding • You can study direct action groups • Key consideration is feasibility – is there enough material? • Step 1: check out web site

21. Four criteria for a good website • Useful • Usable • Accessible for all • Sticky (*makes people want to come back) 

22. Web site design • 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? (easy to navigate) • How would the site appear to someone wanting to get involved?

23. Web site content (1) • 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?

24. Web site content (2) • Does it provide information: • About group • The history of group • Methods it uses • Its successes • Contact details for more info

25. 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

26. Further advice • Make sure you answer all parts of the question (especially all three parts on the website). • For the first part a comparison with another website can be a good idea. • Please ensure you look at ‘Pressure Groups and British Politics’, Chapter 10. (available online)

27. Before we continue, a quite moving and inspirational video-clip on Amnesty International

28. Types of pressure groups • There are many ways of categorising pressure groups

29. Causal/sectional groups • Sectional groups represent a section of the community (e.g. trade unions, CBI etc) • Cause groups represent a belief or principle (e.g. Friends of the Earth, Amnesty International)

30. Insider/outsider typology • Developed by Grant (1978) • Insider/outsider groups cuts across traditional sectional/cause distinction • Insider groups recognised as legitimate by government • But had to abide by rules of the political game which imposed constraints

31. 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

32. Aberdeen group • Work of Jordan, McLaughlin and Maloney (94) • Political price for entry not as high as typology suggests • Large number of groups consulted

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

34. Easy to become an insider • Reinforced by work of Page (98) – insiders outnumber pure outsiders by nine to one • 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

35. Pursuing both strategies • 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

36. Most important criticism • Nature of society and political process has changed • Far more groups representing a more fragmented society • Outsider groups becoming more successful, hence undermining one of key points of distinction • Growth of direct action

37. Next week • More on insiders/outsiders • Pressure groups and the internet • Direct action strategies