advantages and disadvantages

• disadvantage-

  the New Right interpretation (Thatcher's conservative government) argued that trade union strikes and direct action were an attempt to undermine the democratic state
• disadvantage-

  pressure groups focus on one particular issue to the exclusion of everything else. they may prevent politicians from delivering joined-up government
• disadvantage -

  violent and aggressive campaigning methods are contrary to the rule of law and liberal democracy
• disadvantage-

  pressure groups often have limited internal democracy so do not truly represent their members
• advantage -

  many pressure groups have more members than political parties -> more relevant to the public
• disadvantage -

  poor and disadvantaged can't afford to hire expensive lobbyists and lawyers
• advantage

  the pluralist interpretation is that pressure groups are an essential part of democracy as they allow different sections of society to have their views heard by government
• advantage-

  pressure groups allow people to participate in democracy at any time, rather than just during an election campaign every 5 years
• disadvantage -

  unlike political parties, pressure groups are unaccountable to the electorate
• advantage -

  pressure groups allow people to focus on one issue that concerns them
• disadvantage-

  the elitist interpretation is that pressure groups are undemocratic: they give a louder voice to the most powerful. Rich, educated and well-connected people are better able to form influential pressure groups than others
• advantage -

  pressure groups provide the government with information and statistics it might otherwise not discover
• advantage -

  to prevent unions from striking with low internal support, the trade unions act 2016 introduced a minimum turnout of 50% fro strike ballots and a 40% threshold of support for emergency services. strikes should now have a stronger democratic mandate from within the pressure group