Are pressure groups a threat to democracy?

BMA British Medical Association

Read

the description of the BMA How would you classify it as a pressure group? How is it successful? What are the reasons for its success?

Sectional, insider group, protective. Doctors interests. Successful lobbying of MPs. Supports public health initiatives. Respected by Govt, public, international bodies. Large membership-130,000. Got a lot of money. Effective use of committees. Brief politicians-specialist teams. Expertise. Finance public information campaigns.

Why do we need pressure groups?

Traditionally

pressure groups have performed a range of functions; Means of popular participation in politics / nationally and locally between elections Act as source of specialist knowledge Act as intermediaries between competing groups Important social function

 Examples;

mencap was asked by government in 2004 to coordinate a study into education / intervention for disabled children. Study presented to gov. in 2005 ASH 2/3 of funding given by Dept. of Health.

Why have pressure groups increased in importance?

Membership

of parties has fallen. Parties no longer represent interests of members Development of new social movements led to increased numbers.

Are some pressure groups more equal than others?

Main

argument in favour of pressure group activity is put forward by pluralists. The most notable was Robert Dahl. They argue that society consists of many groups representing different sections in society and all have equal opportunity to shape government policy. Opponents to this argue that this is a nave attitude and that some pressure groups distort balance of power.

Are some pressure groups more equal than others?

Dahl

counters this by saying that power is dispersed between pressure groups to avoid a dominant group system, by doing the following; Liberal democracies relatively easy for individuals / groups to enter politics. Countervailing groups balance power Even smallest groups have power to influence voters Individuals likely to be a member of different groups.

Criticisms of pluralism
Pluralism
Elitists Pluralists fail to consider hidden forces. British Motor Federation prevented a debate on road building until explosion of anti-roads protests in the 1990s. From new right Certain groups are able to increase their size (unions) and therefore power, by offering inducements. These groups do not exist for the common good, merely to benefit their members.

Inequalities of wealth ensure that there is massively unequal competition.

State run by and for capitalist ruling class. Most vulnerable groups not organised.

Pluralism

Elitism

PERSPECTIVES ON PRESSURE GROUPS

New Right

Corporatist

Pluralism
Believe in competition Suffragettes Key element of civil society Neopluralism? Cater for diverse society

Elitism Idea of corporatism appeals to elitist. Similar backgrounds Key decisions by small no.

PERSPECTIVES ON PRESSURE GROUPS

New Right
Thatcher dislike of organised groups.

Corporatist 1960s-70s Co-operation between unions and employers Eg.CBI and TUC

Social partners Trade unions and employers in social dialogue

What was the point of representation?

Policy networks
Policy

This concept fits with which other theory on pressure groups?

network a description of the different kinds of relationships between groups and government and the range of players (organised groups, national and European civil servants, academics)
Issue networks

Policy communities
Small, stable and consensual groupings, government officials and group leaders.

Large, flexible and open networks of particular individuals in any policy area. Wider than policy communities. Grown since 80s.

Issue networks Agricultural policy

Policy

made in corridors of Whitehall between representatives of NFU and Ministry of Agriculture.

DEFRA

will meet with; European civil servants NFU Friends of the Earth Food manufacturers Academic researchers Consumer organisations

Which of these is a policy community and which is a policy network. Explain why.