Pressure Groups

Question 1

what are the factors that affect PG success?

Answer 1

• aims/ideology
• finances
• tactics/methods
• govt links

Question 2

what will it mean if goals of Pg are popular amongst public?

Answer 2

makes PG far more powerful

Question 3

what does the Fawcett society campaign for?

Answer 3

women’s rights

Question 4

why does the Fawcett society have public support?

Answer 4

• resonates with both men and women as gender inequality is still a large issue in UK society
• e.g. wage gap

Question 5

what will lead to aims being popular?

Answer 5

if the aims are key issues/problems that affect a large society

Question 6

if PGs aims are popular with the people, why does it lead to success?

Answer 6

• if it resonates with a large group of people, govt more likely to listen
• govt wants to stay in power and be re-elected
• so want to sort out problems to earn votes of electorate

Question 7

why are aims the most important factor for PG success?

Answer 7

• if ideology makes group an outsider, will have no hope of influencing change even if you have good tactics
• ideology affects finances as public support will allow for money which can be spent on lobbying and campaigning

Question 8

how do finances affect PG success?

Answer 8

allow for PGs to boost power and influence in several way

Question 9

how much does CND charge for membership? how many members?

Answer 9

• charge £30/ per annum

- membership of apprize 30,000 members

Question 10

what does money allow PGs to use?

Answer 10

employ lobbyists who can seek to gain them increasing influence within the govt

Question 11

what can PGs set up with money?

Answer 11

think tanks

Question 12

how do think tanks benefit PGs?

Answer 12

• educate public better which can lead to more members and more support
• more support leads to better relations with govt as wanted to get re-elected etc

Question 13

what do finances determine?

Answer 13

tactics a PG can use - less money limits the ways you can influence

Question 14

what disproves the influence of money?

Answer 14

new social movements (NSM)

Question 15

what do NSMs show?

Answer 15

• can still gain public support and campaign for free

- via use of social media

Question 16

what is a key tactic that is free?

Answer 16

direct action - free but requires significant participation to be successful

Question 17

what strike happened in 2011?

Answer 17

• teachers union strike 2011

- meant 62% of schools were shut

Question 18

why does direct action lead to success?

Answer 18

• raises public awareness
• demonstrates widespread discontent within the electorate
• pressure for govt to respond

Question 19

what is a more expensive high effective tactic?

Answer 19

lobbying and legal action

Question 20

give an example of lobbying?

Answer 20

• 1998 Bernie Ecclestone donate £1m to Labour Party
• 1yr later govt passed law saying sports not allowed to advertise Tobacco
• but F1 was exempt

Question 21

what does the Bernie Ecclestone example show?

Answer 21

• effectiveness of lobbying as direct correlation between donation and success
• only rich can do this - smaller PGs unable to do the same

Question 22

how does ideology affect tactics?

Answer 22

if you have a poor ideology, tactics are irrelevant as govt won’t listen

Question 23

who in govt can PGs have relationships to get power?

Answer 23

civil servants or MPs

Question 24

what do relationships with govt mean for PGs?

Answer 24

allows them to have an influence when policy is made

Question 25

give an example of an insider PG?

Answer 25

NFU - often consulted by govt on agricultural matters