LESSON 1: Pressure Groups
. A pressure group is a body which seeks to influence government policy or public opinion, but without actually seeking governmental office itself. Unlike political parties, which offer policies on virtually every issue, pressure groups tend to be concerned with one specific issue or a narrow range of similar issues. For example - animal rights, environmental protection or tackling poverty.
2. A Sectional pressure group is one that represents the interests of a particular section of society, usually on the basis of occupation or profession. As such, their members have a direct, material interest in belonging to the group, for they usually obtain visible, tangible benefits. The most obvious sectional pressure groups are Trade Unions. These groups have "closed" membership, meaning that only those people in the relevant occupation, profession or section of society can join.
3. A Cause pressure group tends to be concerned with either a social or ethical issue (a 'cause') or with campaigning on behalf of others in society who they perhaps consider are not being treated fairly. Many cause groups therefore, are focused on broader issues relating to notions of equality, fairness, and justice, human or animal rights. For example - Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace campaign to save the environment. Unlike sectional groups, cause groups exercise "open" membership, so anyone who supports the same cause can join.
4. THE SECTIONAL & CAUSE GROUP CLASSIFICATION DOES NOT HELP TO CLARIFY THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PRESSURE GROUP.
fOR
aGAINST
Clarification - tell us who they are, what they stand for etc.
Many groups cut across too groups
People assume sectional groups are generally more influential and resourced than cause groups
Some people believe the terms 'sectional and cause' to suggest an ideological preference. I.e.- sectional -> good
Cause -> bad
5. Some pressure groups can be hard to classify. The British Medical Association, for example, is a sectional group as it seeks to improve the pay and working conditions of those employed in the health sector. It also, however, campaigns on behalf of improving public health, and so it could be argued that it is a cause group.
Another example of a pressure group that may not fit into one specific category would be the countryside alliance. Although it promotes itself as a cause group, its cause supposedly being countryside life, anti-hunt groups have claimed it is a sectional group, arguing that it really only represents the interests of the rich and land gentry.
. A pressure group is a body which seeks to influence government policy or public opinion, but without actually seeking governmental office itself. Unlike political parties, which offer policies on virtually every issue, pressure groups tend to be concerned with one specific issue or a narrow range of similar issues. For example - animal rights, environmental protection or tackling poverty.
2. A Sectional pressure group is one that represents the interests of a particular section of society, usually on the basis of occupation or profession. As such, their members have a direct, material interest in belonging to the group, for they usually obtain visible, tangible benefits. The most obvious sectional pressure groups are Trade Unions. These groups have "closed" membership, meaning that only those people in the relevant occupation, profession or section of society can join.
3. A Cause pressure group tends to be concerned with either a social or ethical issue (a 'cause') or with campaigning on behalf of others in society who they perhaps consider are not being treated fairly. Many cause groups therefore, are focused on broader issues relating to notions of equality, fairness, and justice, human or animal rights. For example - Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace campaign to save the environment. Unlike sectional groups, cause groups exercise "open" membership, so anyone who supports the same cause can join.
4. THE SECTIONAL & CAUSE GROUP CLASSIFICATION DOES NOT HELP TO CLARIFY THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PRESSURE GROUP.
fOR
aGAINST
Clarification - tell us who they are, what they stand for etc.
Many groups cut across too groups
People assume sectional groups are generally more influential and resourced than cause groups
Some people believe the terms 'sectional and cause' to suggest an ideological preference. I.e.- sectional -> good
Cause -> bad
5. Some pressure groups can be hard to classify. The British Medical Association, for example, is a sectional group as it seeks to improve the pay and working conditions of those employed in the health sector. It also, however, campaigns on behalf of improving public health, and so it could be argued that it is a cause group.
Another example of a pressure group that may not fit into one specific category would be the countryside alliance. Although it promotes itself as a cause group, its cause supposedly being countryside life, anti-hunt groups have claimed it is a sectional group, arguing that it really only represents the interests of the rich and land gentry.
