How do we judge success Pressure groups usually have clearly stated goals Success can be measured against such goals But some pressure group aims are longterm and thus unrealisable in shortterm ID: 233171
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Slide1
Pressure Group SuccessSlide2
How do we judge success?
Pressure groups usually have clearly stated goals
Success can be measured against such goals
But some pressure group aims are long-term, and thus
unrealisable
in short-term (
eg
Greenpeace), while others have more easily achievable short-term aims (the
Gurkha
campaign)
An objective measure of group success might be based on levels of profile achieved, or the impact of education campaigns aimed at gradually changing perceptions (Friends of the Earth on climate change)Slide3
Factors Affecting Pressure Group Success
Practical Achievability
Groups with time-limited and practically achievable aims are likely to have more success than those with long-term, more amorphous goals
Make Poverty History, for example, has an open-ended, expensive and global set of aims unlikely to be achieved in the short-term
Part of their measured success might be the levels of changed consciousness, or gradualist changes in legislation
The
Gurkha
Justice Campaign, on the other hand, had an achievable short-term aimSlide4
Gurkha Justice Campaign
Aim: to gain the right to live in the UK for all
Gurkhas
who served in the British army prior to 1997
Numbers affected: between 10,000 and 15,000 former
Gurkhas
Financial impact: between £660 and £700 per new resident
Result: Parties in Parliament agreed to pass legislation securing the right to residency for afore-mentioned
G
urkhasSlide5
Factors Affecting Pressure Group Success
Receptivity/Public Opinion
Groups ‘pushing at an open door’ will generally fare better than those ‘swimming against the tide’
Celebrity endorsement also helps to warm the public to an idea
Jamie
O
liver’s ‘Feed Me Better’ campaign aimed to improve quality of school dinners
Celebrity endorsement and public support led to specific changes being made regarding school dinners
On the other hand, the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO) has less
favourable
public supportSlide6
Factors Affecting Pressure Group Success
Changing political circumstances
Friends of the Earth campaigned for use of greater renewable energy in the early 1970s and struggled to make headway in their campaign
Advances in technology and changing attitudes made their case more compelling by the 21
st
century
Campaigners for gay rights failed to stop the Thatcher government’s Section 28 act
They only started to make headway when Tony Blair’s government was in power, which accompanied a broader change in attitudes
This was further helped by media and cultural attitudesSlide7
Factors Affecting Pressure Group Success
Human Resources
Groups with large memberships often have greater apparent legitimacy (RSPB is active in and consulted about conservation issues)
Unions have traditionally benefited from large memberships
Large memberships also bring greater funding via subscriptions
Professional groups (BMA) benefit from the perceived expertise of their members – although BMA failed to stop NHS changes, and the Bar Association failed to stop legal aid changes
Other groups may benefit from specific skill sets offered by members – fund-raising, marketing, legal expertiseSlide8
Factors Affecting Pressure Group Success
Middle-class groups (argues
Wyn
Grant) have greater success due to their articulate and well-educated membershipsSlide9
Factors Affecting Pressure Group Success
Material Resources
Money is the obvious asset – even small groups with generous funds (Taxpayer’s Alliance) can make a significant impact
Other assets can help – office space, web serversSlide10
Factors Affecting Pressure Group Success
Group Status
Insider groups benefit from regular consultation and access to government ministers
They may be involved in drafting legislation
Groups with financial, business or political leverage have a greater advantage –
eg
CBI
Groups with specialisms often gain insider status (Howard League, Liberty)Slide11
Factors Affecting Pressure Group Success
Group Methods
Groups employing a variety of methods can have greater success – such as lobbying ministers, using social media and the internet to generate support (38 Degrees), letter writing campaigns (Amnesty)
More extreme methods can alienate support – the Animal Liberation Front is rejected even by many animal rights supporters as being too militant
Mass marches can generate media attention, but not always change government minds (Countryside Alliance failed to stop ban on fox-hunting; their more effective work was done through
utilising
supporters in the Lords to water down the bill)Slide12
Conclusion
Insider groups can be said to have a greater chance of success than outsider groups
Material resources, notably funding, is normally hugely beneficial
A high media profile does not always guarantee success
Groups with easier aims will have greater success than longer-term, more complex groups
The climate of public opinion is often crucial
There is no set formula for success!