Pressure Groups may be seen to strengthen democracy in that they encourage wider participation in the political process, particularly single issue protest groups such as Stonewall the NSPCC and WWF. They promote debate on issues which leads to a better informed electorate; such pressure groups play an educational role. For government and civil servants pressure groups often provide valuable information and advice necessary for the development of policy. For example, health policies are unlikely to be successful if the government has not discussed them with the BMA. While measures to tackle crime are unlikely to succeed if the opinions of the police federation have not been taken into account. Further demonstaration on how pressure groups strengthen democracy is that they have specialist knowledge on areas that may elude government ministers.
Pressure groups assist the surveillance of the government by exposing information it would rather keep secret, thereby reinforcing and complementing the work of opposition political parties. Pressure groups thereby improve the accountability of decision makers to the electorate. An example of the pervious is the scandalas lack of parental rights that is attributed to fathers in the family courts, this injustice was advocated by the disbanded pressure group Fathers for justice.
Regarding the pluralist model of democracy pressure groups play a vital role. Pressure groups unlike political parties cannot provide adequate representation for the full range of diverse interests and opinions in a modern democracy, because their key function is to aggregate interests into a coherent political entity capable of governing the country. Unlike pressure groups, political parties are often preoccupied with winning elections and thus pressure groups are an advantage because they don’t seek elections and can therefore focus on the concerns at hand. It is exactly the representation of specialist sectional interests and single issues which give cause for concern, both in terms of methods used to achieve objectives and of the undue power and influence which particular lobbyists can exert.
Pressure groups can also be said to provide alternative viewpoints espcialy in a politicial climate where the government is similiar to the officicial oppsition. Pressure groups consequently provide alternative arguments to those expressed in partisan newspapers such as the Daily Mail and the Evening Standard this again strengthens the democratic process.
When exposed to pressure groups citizens often see things differenly and come to different conclusions about particular issues, than if they had only heard the claims of poliicans or the press. The was in a IRAQ is dejectedly a superb example of such. The actions of the Respect freedom coalition before they formed a political party offered a altuntive stance on the situation which turned out to be moderertly accurate in contrast to the official New Labour and Conservative concensous on the war. Trade Unions can publicly hightlight cases of bulling or discrimination in the workplace which unsympathetic govermetns or newspapers otherwise might ignore.
Pressure groups improve the quality of government thus they are a strength to democracy. Consultation with affected groups is the rational way to make decisions in a free society. It makes government more efficient by enhancing the quality of the decision making process the information and advice provided by groups helps to improve the quality of government policy and legislation. Pressure groups enable new concerns and issues to reach the political agenda, thereby facilitating social progress and preventing social stagnation. For example, the feminist and environmentalist movements.
Pressure groups are a the products of freedom of association, which is a fundamental principle of liberal democracy. Freely operating pressure groups are essential to the effective functioning of liberal democracy in three main ways: they serve as vital intermediary institutions between government and society; they assist in the dispersal of political power; and they provide important counterweights to balance the concentration of power as a result it is rather evident that such a orgainsateion is a advantage and a key ally to democracy.
Pressure groups are an essential dimension of any democracy, yet they can endanger democracy if sectional groups undermine the public interest or if the methods they use are corrupt or intimidating In conclustion on balance pressure groups are a excellent tool to democracy and are hence a strength to the democratic practice by on large.