Modern Studies

• Pressure group


  An organisation made up of like-minded individuals who want to influence decision making
• Many people have passions in life – perhaps for the environment, or for animal rights or fighting certain diseases like cancer
• As we live in a democracy, we all have a right to contact our representatives (Local Councillors, MPs & MSPs) and try to encourage them to speak up on certain issues
• Pressure groups


  Groups that are working for a particular cause and put pressure on the government
• There are thousands of pressure groups in the UK
• Pressure groups vary in size


  • Small group of locals protesting
  • Multinational organisations protesting about climate change
• Pressure groups do not want to be in/the Government as they have an interest only in one particular issue or cause
• Types of pressure groups

  • Sectional/Interest groups
  • Cause groups
• Sectional/Interest groups


  Groups fighting for the rights of their own members, not open to everyone
• Cause groups


  Groups trying to help other vulnerable people, the environment, or animals - open to anyone to join
• Examples of cause groups

  • Greenpeace
  • PETA
  • NSPCC
• Reasons for joining a pressure group

  1. Passionate about the cause

  2. To participate in pressure group action

  3. To improve chances of success

  4. Influenced by pressure group activities

  5. To provide financial support

  6. The media pay more attention to pressure groups

  7. Seen as the most effective way to influence the government
• Greenpeace has approx. 11,000 Scottish Members
• Legal methods used by pressure groups

  • Petitions
  • Marches, Protests & Demonstrations
  • Poster & Leaflet Campaigns
  • (Social) Media campaign
  • Lobbying
  • Providing information & research
• Petitions


  Pressure groups use petitions to show decision makers that the public feel strongly about an issue
• Marches, Protests & Demonstrations


  Pressure groups can arrange public protests to draw attention to an issue
• Poster & Leaflet Campaigns

  Pressure groups hand out leaflets or post them through doors to raise awareness and gain additional funding
• (Social) Media campaign


  Pressure groups use social media and their own websites to run viral campaigns
• Lobbying


  Pressure groups try to influence decision-makers directly by meeting with them
• Providing information & research

  Pressure groups provide information and research to support their cause
• Some groups are ignored by the media due to low numbers of participants. Many groups are accused of over exaggerating how many people turn up/attend.
• Poster & Leaflet Campaigns

  Pressure groups hand out leaflets in the street or post them through doors to raise awareness and importantly, try to gain additional funding. These are designed to be eye-catching or provoking.
• Poster & Leaflet Campaigns

  • The NSPCC's billboard campaign to highlight increased levels of child abuse & domestic violence during the covid-19 lockdowns

  
• Effectiveness of Poster & Leaflet Campaigns

  Many people bin 'junk' mail without reading it. People may be shocked by the information the see/read but this doesn't mean they will join/donate.
• (Social) Media campaign


  Pressure groups are increasingly making use of social media. Nearly all pressure groups have a social media presence or their own website. They attempt to run viral Facebook or Twitter campaigns.
• (Social) Media campaign


  • The WWF has a website that provides campaign information and even and online shop!
• Effectiveness of (Social) Media campaign

  It is very easy for supporters to like, share or follow social media posts, in turn this then has a cascade effect appearing on their friends/followers' newsfeeds.
• Lobbying (contacting) Decision makers


  Pressure groups meet with Councillors, MSPs & MP's face to face to make their feelings known and raise awareness of their issue. The aim is to influence their opinion &/or persuade them to support the groups cause.
• Lobbying (contacting) Decision makers


  • Meeting with Scotland's Health & Welfare minister to discuss helping homeless people during covid-19
• Effectiveness of Lobbying (contacting) Decision makers


  MSP's may not have much power on their own to change government policy themselves. The govt. may have the opposite views to the pressure group.
• Letter Writing Campaigns


  One person writing one letter can be easy to ignore, however, if pressure groups organise for hundreds of letters to be sent decision makers are more likely to take notice!
• Letter Writing Campaigns


  • Tens of thousands of letters were sent to local councillors by the 'Save Ayr A&E' group, against closures, this not only save the A&E dept but led to upgraded facilities.
• Effectiveness of Letter Writing Campaigns

  Letters are seen as more personal, and crucially, with enough of them, it does show a good level of support for a cause.
• Direct Action


  Any activity undertaken by a pressure group that breaks the law.
• Illegal Gatherings


  • There have been a number of anti-lockdown protests during the Covid-19 pandemic. These protests have taken place despite social gatherings being illegal – this has led to hundreds of arrests. Piers Corbyn, Jeremy Corbyn's brother has been a figurehead for many of these protests.
• Vandalism


  • A number of extreme animal rights groups such as the Animal Liberation Front have attacked laboratories that test on animals.
• Violence


  • At a Pro-Trump Rally in Washington DC on the 6th of March 2021 groups that were protesting the fact that Donald Trump lost the 2020 Presidential Election led to an illegal march on the Capitol building and the injury and death of Capitol Police Officers.
• Illegal Blockades


  • Protesters block roads, street or railways etc. to cause a high level of disruption. Extinction Rebellion staged a 'die-in' protest in Central Station in Glasgow.
• Reasons for Direct Action

  1. They want to demonstrate how strongly they feel about an issue. 2. Some people believe that they have no other choice. 3. Some believe that the best way to get attention from the media and therefore raise awareness amongst the public and put pressure on politicians is to engage in illegal activities.
• Rights of Pressure Groups

  1. Pressure groups have the right to demonstrate. 2. Pressure groups have the right to publicise their cause. 3. Pressure groups have the right to contact politicians. 4. Pressure Group members have a right to speak freely.