Handout: Types of Pressure Group
2nd September 2015
Types of Pressure Group
Two possible definitions of a pressure group:
- ‘An organisation which seeks to influence the details of a comparatively small range of public policies and which is not a faction of a recognised political party’ (Robert Baggot)
- ‘An organisation which seeks, as one of its functions, to influence the formulation and implementation of public policy representing a set of authoritative decisions taken by the executive, the legislature and the judiciary, and by local government and the European Union.’ (Wyn Grant)
Examples of pressure groups:
| Interest (sectional) groups | Goals |
| Trade unions (e.g.) | Furthering the interests of groups of workers, including better pay, working conditions and pensions, better health and safety, increased job security and improved training. |
| Confederation of British Industry | Securing economic, industrial, trade and financial policies favourable to British industry. The CBI supports the interests of British industry in European and World Trade Bodies |
| Automobile Association | Pursuing policies favourable to motorists, including road building, road safety measures and lower fuel prices opposing policies that make motoring more expensive. |
| MIND | Defending the interests of the mentally ill. Working with the NHS and other authorities to improve policies on mental health |
| Issue/ Cause Groups | Goals |
| Friends of the Earth | Promoting policies that are environmentally friendly and opposing decisions that are likely to cause environmental damage. Opposing genetically modified seed trials. Promoting policies that favour biodiversity. |
| Transport 2000 | Supporting and developing policies to improve public transport systems. |
| Electoral Reform Society | Promoting the ideas of electoral reform. |
| Countryside Alliance | Defending the traditional way of life, supporting fox-hunting and farming, and opposing building in rural areas. This is also a sectional group. |
Sectional groups act on the behalf of a particular part of society. They are also known as interest groups because they protect the interests of a section of society.
Issue groups promote a particular cause. (They are sometimes called ‘cause groups’. They are not ‘self-interested’ as they try to promote a particular idea or cause to further the general good.
Look at p186 in L and R. Activity 10.1
Insider groups have strong links with decision makers and are regularly consulted. This may be because these groups are acceptable to the government or helpful for the process. They can use direct methods to gain influence.
Outsider groups do not participate in the consultation process, either by choice, or because they are excluded by government. They can only use indirect methods to attempt to change policy.
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