What’s the title?

Pressure Groups

L.O. To be able to explain the different types of pressure groupsTo be able to explain the different views on the role of pressure groups in democracy

What is a pressure group?

• A pressure group is a group of people who try to persuade the government to chage a policy or to try and change public public opinion.

• There are 4 key words:– Insider– Outsider– Protective – Promotional

Insider Vs Outsider

• Insider groups are often listened to by the government and their campaigns and methods will usually be legal. (Indirect Action)

• Outsider groups are not usually listened to by the government and may adopt more direct and sometimes illegal methods. (Direct Action)

Are the following Direct Action or Indirect Action?

• Protest marches• Writing letters to MP• Lobby MPs• Blockades• Petitions• Media Campaign

• Boycott• Violence• Strikes• Meet with MPs• Gain celebrity support

Direct Action Indirect Action

• Protest marches• Writing letters to MP• Lobby MPs• Blockades• Petitions• Media Campaign

• Boycott• Violence• Strikes• Meet with MPs• Gain celebrity support

How many pressure groups can you name?

Examples of Pressure Groups

Name of pressure group

Area of interest

Promotional or Protective?

Methods

RSPCA

ALF

Amnesty International

1 - Amnesty International

• Amnesty International – Working to act against human rights abuses.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5-81AmFkCc

2- NUT

• The largest teacher’s union

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QymEwaBs4I0

3 – The AA (Automoblie Association)

http://www.theaa.com/public_affairs/news/daylight-saving-lighter-winter-evenings.html

http://zone.theaa.com/blogs/detail/86/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKSXi9W8EYU

4 - Barnados

• Although a children’s charity Barnados also puts pressure on the government about Laws aimed at children e.g. ASBOs, Smacking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E1b_s9irUw&feature=related

Views on Pressure groups

• There are two main views on pressure groups.

Can you guess what they are?

Pluralist View Vs Conflict View

What do you know about the following pressure groups?

Views on Pressure groups

L.O. To be able to explain the different views on pressure groups

and democracy

Pluralist View

• Everyone is free to join or start a pressure group. They are a healthy part of democracy as they show the wide range of views in society.

• There are a wide range of pressure groups in the UK today.

Wide Range of Pressure Groups

Pluralist View

• Pressure groups inform the public about different topics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzDr18UYO18

Pluralist View

• Governments have to listen to pressure groups between elections, this spreads power.

Conflict View

• Are all pressure groups equally influential?

• What makes a group powerful?– Number of members– Money– Connections– Organisation/Skills

Some groups are more powerful than others.

• The CBI has more influence over the government’s economic policy than Child Poverty Action Group or Help The Aged.

• Over a million people marched against the war in Iraq but other interests held more power.

• The government went back on its plan to sell off national forests due to public protest. It has not gone back on its plan to cut public sector jobs. Why?

Can you think of groups who may be very powerful and those who

may not be powerful?Powerful

• Business• Middle Class• Organised

Not Powerful• Unemployed• Disabled• Unorganised

12 mark question

• To what extent would sociologists agree that…

pressure groups and political parties are an important aspect of a democratic society.