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Pressure Groups

This document provides an overview of pressure groups in democracy. It defines pressure groups as associations that seek to influence decision making by political parties in power, though they do not directly contest elections. The document outlines various classifications of pressure groups, including institutional, associational, non-associational, and anomic groups. It also discusses the roles and techniques of pressure groups, such as lobbying politicians and developing public opinion through propaganda. Pressure groups are seen as a vital link between the government and the people in a democracy.

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Arun Bijauliya
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183 views

Pressure Groups

This document provides an overview of pressure groups in democracy. It defines pressure groups as associations that seek to influence decision making by political parties in power, though they do not directly contest elections. The document outlines various classifications of pressure groups, including institutional, associational, non-associational, and anomic groups. It also discusses the roles and techniques of pressure groups, such as lobbying politicians and developing public opinion through propaganda. Pressure groups are seen as a vital link between the government and the people in a democracy.

Uploaded by

Arun Bijauliya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Pressure groups

For semester 2 students of P.G. Political


Science, Patna University, Patna by
Professor( DR) Shefali Roy
Head, Department of Political Science
Patna University, Patna.
introduction
 Democracy is a system of government
where decisions are arrived at with
majoritarian principles with representatives
elected at periodic elections.
 In a pluralist model of Democracy, pressure
groups play an essential role. Political parties
cannot provide adequate representation to
the diverse interests and opinions so
pressure groups aggregate the interests into
a coherent political entity capable of
governing the country.
Definition
Arthur Bentley wrote a book The Process
of Government in 1908 and David B.
Truman made a significant improvement in
his book the Government Process in 1936,
however V.O. Key Jr. in his Book Politics,
Parties and Pressure Groups in 1945 made
a monumental contribution in the direction
of pressure groups. It is much discussed in
western democracies and is highly active in
Indian Politics.
Pressure group
Political party and pressure groups are different
however are associated with power.
Political party is more or less organised group of
citizens who act together as a political unit.
It also contests elections and seek control over
government.
Political parties are decision making bodies of
homogenous whole.
Pressure groups are associations to influence the
decision making of political party in power.
Pressure groups don’t contest elections and are
heterogeneous groups.
Utility of pressure groups
 It serves the interests of various sections of the
society and thus contribute to their happiness
 It is essential in a democratic set up as they
balance the national interests and sectional
interests.
 Pressure groups are also helpful in making
statistical data available to the government in
determining the policy.
 The theory of welfare state, socialism and
positivism have increased the need of pressure
groups to work as a shield against government’s
misuse of power.
Techniques of pressure groups
It acts like a lobby trying to develop contacts with
politicians, ministers and other senior officials who
decide the policy matters.
Lobbyists have three functions to perform
1.Communicating information
2. Defending the interests of employees
3. And defining the political implications of legislative
matters.
Pressure group influence public opinion through
propaganda, pamphlets radios, T.V.
They also sometimes use violent techniques as
employed by anomic groups which has no legitimacy.
Types of pressure groups
Gabriel Almond and Powell talks about four types of
pressure Groups

Institutional Associational
Pressure
pressure
Groups
groups

Non
Associational Anomic
Pressure Pressure
Groups groups
Jean Blondel’s classification

Community Associational

customary Institutional
protective promotional
Maurice duverger’s
classification
 According to the nature of functioning he
divides groups into four
1. Exclusive groups which puts only pressure
2. Partial groups are promoters of interests
3.Private groups which is found in USA where
private institutions put pressure and
4. Public Groups are include official groups
who secretly align themselves with one or
more pressure groups.
In addition to it, he also talks about pseudo
pressure groups which includes Mass Media.
Institutional Pressure groups
 It is found within Political Parties, legislatures,
Bureaucracies and Armies.
 These are formal organizations with
designated political and social functions
other than interest articulation.
 These groups articulate their own interests
and also represent the interests of other
groups in the society.
 Examples are like The Congress Working
Committee, The Congress Parliamentary
Board, The Central Election Committee, The
Bureaucracy ,The Army
Associational pressure groups
 These groups are specialized structures for
interest articulation.
 In India there are two types of
associational pressure Groups
1.Occupational
2. Community
Trade union is a classical example of
occupational groups and students’
organization groups as community groups.
Religious denominations, Civilian groups also
plays a vital role in the Indian politics
Non associational pressure groups

 These groups function in a latent manner


and informal way.
 They are also called traditional groups.
 The examples can be communal and
religious groups.
 Caste groups can also be included in it.
 Language groups, syndicate, the ideological
left and the young turks are some of its
examples
 It is based on ethnic and kinship bond.
Anomic pressure groups
 It is usually found in developing countries.
 It is a spontaneous breakthrough into the
political system in forms of riots,
insurgencies, assassinations, terrorism and
is devoid of human values.
 The immediate Sikh riots of 1984 after the
assassination of Mrs Indira Gandhi by Sikh
body guards can be cited as an example of
anomic action and the body involved in it is
regarded as anomic group.
Role of pressure groups
 Pressure groups are vital link between government
and the governed.
 They are able to express the views of minorities in
the community who might not otherwise receive a
hearing
 They are able to use their expertise to provide
government with relevant information
 They offer an alternative source of advice to the
government
 They generally promote opportunities for political
participation for citizens, without a need to join a
political party
 Above all they allow democratic rights of the
people.
conclusion
Pressure groups are significant in
parliamentary democracies as they reflect
the concerns of the society in which they
operate.
 whatever pattern is followed in a political
system, it is clear that pressure groups
despite being independent of political
parties, still maintain contacts with them
and try to influence legislation and decision
making process through these contacts.
Suggested readings& questions
for exercise
 Indian Political System by A P Awasthi
 Political Theory by Eddy Asirvatham
 Political Theory by R.C. Agarwal
 Questions for exercise
1.Discuss the relationship between Political
Parties and Pressure Groups.
2.Highlight the role of Pressure Groups in a
Parliamentary Democracy.
3. Define Pressure Groups and discuss its
functions.
4. Discuss the meaning and classification of
Pressure Groups.

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