Marches/demonstrations

• Marches and demonstrations

  A final method used by pressure groups in an attempt to influence the government is marches and demonstrations.

  Pressure Groups often gather in large numbers to march, protest and draw attention to their cause. They can cause disruption and can restrict access to key public services.
• Marches and demonstrations - EXAMPLE & ANALYSIS

  Extinction Rebellion (XR) is a Pressure Group fighting for action on Climate Change in the United Kingdom. Their large-scale protests, particularly across 2019, aimed to compel the government to take urgent action on the climate crisis.

  These demonstrations contributed to the UK Parliament's decision to declare a climate emergency in May 2019.

  This shows how the disruptive nature of marches and demonstrations can be highly influential to the government, encouraging them to make change to prevent the dissent of chaos, providing a much less peaceful opportunity of influence to pressure groups.
• Marches/demonstrations - REBUTTAL

  However, the disruption created by marches and demonstrations often compels the government to take action against their cause, or to limit the ability of pressure groups to exercise this method.

  Of all methods of protest, it can certainly be argued that marches can become chaotic and stray from the peace that is promoted within legal activism. This therefore can limit the success they have in the long-run, as the government attempt to maintain control for themselves.
• Marches/demonstrations - REBUTTAL (EXAMPLE & ANALYSIS)

  In response to XR's disruptive tactics, the government introduced the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, which expanded police powers to manage protests.

  This highlights that the government holds the power over pressure groups themselves, being able to limit the impact they have in their marches by containing and restricting this method of protest.
• Marches/demonstrations - EVALUATION

  It can be said that the government are able to inhibit the influence of pressure groups through their control over law enforcement and ability to form legislation preventing the impact of demonstrations such as this, but this draws more attention to these issues and encourages demonstrations to grow in their strength. Therefore, with success in influencing public opinion and the chaotic impact these marches have on governments willing to regain control, it is clear that pressure groups are able to influence the government through this method of protest.