British Politics: Pressure Groups - Why has the distinction between the interest and cause pressure groups been criticised?

Here are some essay's I wrote back in year 12, my first year of college. They are all 5 mark questions so, as you can see, the responses are very short and simple. I HATE reading stuff I wrote in year 12. Hate it!

Robyn, UK

Why has the distinction between the interest and cause pressure groups been criticised?

The interest and cause distinction has been subject to increasing criticism. The differences between interest and caue groups are blurred in at least three ways. The first of these is that some pressure groups have both section and promotional characteristics. For example, some sectional groups such as UK Coalition of People Living with HIV and Aids also carry out promotional activities related to public health and education. In a way, all pressure groups have sectional concerns which are based on the interested of their staff, property and money they own. Secondly, a single pressure group may include members with both sectional and promotional motivations, for example against a third runway at Heathrow Airport. The protesters included people with sectional concerns such as homes being demolished but also contain people with promotional concerns about the environment. Lastly, some pressure groups try to mask their sectional motivations by adopting the language and arguments of a promotional group. This happens because moral concerns matter more to the public than self-interest. For instance, the BMA only care for the interests of doctors but will talk in terms of public health, patients welfare and the NHS.

What are two differences between insider and outsider groups?

One of the differences between insider and outsider groups is that insider groups have access to policy-makers and outsider groups have limited or no access. This means that insider groups can have a much bigger impact and can do so much easier than outsider groups who have to make large efforts to be heard. This fact links to the second difference. Because insider groups don’t have to work hard to affect policy, they are often little heard of by the public. Outsider groups, on the other hand, use the public and their support to be heard and try to achieve their aims.

Why may some pressure groups choose to remain outside groups?

Although there are many benefits to being an insider group there are also many downsides. Firstly, insider groups must have objectives that are compatible with government which means that they wouldn’t be able to address all the issues they want. Outsider groups wouldn’t like this because it would mean sacrificing some of their aims.

Secondly, they must demonstrate capacity to ensure that their members abide by agreed decisions. This significantly restricts the groups freedom of manoeuvre. Outsider groups would also hate this because they would feel ‘domesticated’ or ‘controlled’ by the government.

Also, some groups recognize that outsider strategies, such as petitions, demonstrations and marches are the most likely way of engaging potential supporters and turning them into activists.

Also many outsider groups have been attracted by ‘new politics’ which lean towards more innovative and theatrical forms of protest politics rather than ‘established’ parties, pressure groups and representative processes.