Pressure Groups and Movements

A pressure group refers to a group of people; who are organized activities for promoting and defending their common interests. It is called so for bringing a change in public policies by the exertion of some pressure on the government and also acts as a catalyst between the government and its members.

Pressure groups are also referred to as interest groups or vested groups and they differ from the political parties; as they do not contest in elections and also do not try to capture political power. Protection and promotion of their members from the influence of the government are one of their primary concerns. They influence policy making and policy implementation in the government through legal as well as legitimate methods.

These groups come in a variety of shapes and sizes :

1. From the standpoint of purpose, self-seeking, and altruism.
2. With regard to the point of tenure, ephemeral and long-term; and with regard to the formal or informal bureaucratic organization, taking into account the fact of power position.

Sectional Interest Groups and Public Interest Groups

Sectional Interest Groups

Interest groups seek to promote the interests of one particular section or group of society. They are known as sectional as they represent a section of society. Their main concern is the betterment and well-being of its members, not in general the community.

Public Interest Groups

When the representation is not one section of the society but some common or general interest that needs to be defended. Bolivian organization. FEDECOR is an example. They promote collective rather than selective good. At times, public interest groups can undertake activities that benefit them as well as others like BAMCEF, which campaigns against caste discrimination. Its primary focus is social justice and social equality for the entire society.

Techniques Used by Pressure Groups

• Propagandizing: It refers to the technique of influencing public opinion and gaining indirect influence over the government since public opinion is very important in a democracy.
• Electioneering: Placement in the public office persons; who are favorably disposed towards the interests of the concerned pressure group seek to promote.
• Lobbying: Persuading public officers, to adopt and enforce certain politics which prove more beneficial to their interests.

Roles of Pressure Groups

Pressure groups play important roles in democracy because of representation and also social welfare. Some important roles of pressure groups are as follows:

1. Organized pressure groups are present actively in every political community, as they are inclined to the idea of a social service state.
2. The factor of modernization acts as a form of lubricant in machines of functional differentiation.
3. When a state is committed to the idea of a welfare state, social groups are assigned greater responsibilities and roles in politics. Also, when a state adopts a policy of a positive role in planning and service, they become increasingly dependent on such groups.

Characteristics of Pressure Groups

1. Use of both Tradition and Modern Means: Financing political parties, sponsoring their candidates, etc. are some modern means and traditional ones include the exploitation of castes, creed, and religious feelings to promote their interests.
2. Increase Pressure and Demands on Resources: The result of scarcity of resources, and claims on resources leads to a steady rise of pressure groups.
3. Inconsistencies of Political Parties: Nonfulfillment of the promises made by the political parties and not working constantly at the goals promised, lead to discrepancies.

Classification of Pressure Groups

Institutional Interest Groups

These groups are organized in an organized way which consists mostly of professionally employed persons who try to exert their influence. They include political parties, legislatures, etc. Examples: IAS Association.

Associational Interest Groups

They are organized specialized groups formed for interest articulation, with a limited goal in mind. These include trade unions, organizations of industrialists, etc. Example: All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC).

Anomic Interest Groups

Spontaneous breaks into the political system from society in the form of riots, demonstrations, etc. are known as anomic interest groups.

Non-Associational Interest Groups

Ethnic, regional, and class groups articulate interests on basis of individuals, family, and religious heads. These groups include caste groups, language groups, etc.

Pressure Groups in India

1. Trade Unions: All India Trade Union Congress, and the Indian National Trade Union Congress are a few examples of Indian trade unions.
2. Business Groups: Federation of India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Federation of All India Foodgrains Dealers Association (FAIFDA), etc.
3. Agrarian Groups: All India Kisan Sabha and Bharatiya Kisan Union are a few examples.
4. Religious Groups: Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS), Jamaat-e-Islamic, etc. are a few examples of religious groups in India.
5. Anomic Groups: Some examples of anomic groups are Naxalite groups, the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), etc. 

Functions

The degree of involvement may have a line of demarcation. Pressure groups are recognized in a pluralistic society with a democratic system. It ensures broad participation to the point of making them the primary avenues of activity outside of the ‘official administration.’ A totalitarian organization, on the other hand, encourages and allows them to work on a specific path that is advantageous to its own interests.

• Interest groups aim to influence public policy in the desired direction in every culture, whether democratic or totalitarian, by refusing to embrace the duty of public office and declining to hold direct responsibility for leading the country.
• Policy decisions and administrative dispositions are sought by pressure organizations. They have a tendency to change the nature of their activities. This is impacted by the allocation of effective power within political machinery rather than the formal constitutional structure of governments. Thus, the interplay of governmental institutions, activities, and attitudes in relation to the scope or intensity of their interest determines the nature of group politics.
• In terms of governmental structure, it should be noted that the sort of political system should be considered. For example, if policy-making and implementation are delegated to the central branch of administration, a pressure group can occupy a highly influential, powerful, and well-organized position even at the national level.
• In a country with a unitary government, organizations’ top units are located in the national capital. However, in a country with a federal government, many organizations have units at the municipal and regional levels as well.

Role of Pressure Groups

In a modern political system where the state is inextricably bound to the values of representative democracy and social welfare, pressure organizations play a critical role. There is one thing that has to be mentioned here.

1. Organized interest groups exist in every political society, but they are especially active under a representative government dedicated to achieving the objective of a social service state. However, there is a distinction in that they are more varied and active in a wealthy and affluent culture than a poor and backward one.
2. Regardless of the degree of differentiation, it is undeniable that the component of modernization, which functions as a lubricant in the machine of functional differentiation, enhances its significance in the political process of western democracy. The multiverse nature of society, manifested in the division of labor and functional specialization, splits it into a vast array of interests, allowing for a social organization based on groups.

Pressure Groups and Movements with Politics

• They run information campaigns, organize meetings, circulate petitions, and so on in order to gain public support and sympathy for their goals and activities.
• They frequently organize protest activities such as strikes or disruptions of government programs.
• Some members of pressure groups or movement groups may serve on official bodies and committees that advise the government.

Relationship between Political Groups and Pressure Groups

1. In certain circumstances, pressure organizations are created or headed by political party officials, or they serve as political parties’ extended arms. In India, for example, the bulk of labor unions and student groups were created by or are affiliated with one of the major political parties.
2. Movements can spawn political parties. For example, when the Assam student movement against “foreigners” came to an end, it resulted in the foundation of the Asom Gana Parishad.
3. In most circumstances, the relationship between political parties and interest or movement organizations is not so straightforward. As most new leaders of political parties come from interest or movement groups, conversation and negotiation take place in this instance as well.

Movement Groups

Movements are also comprised of a diverse range of groups. The numerous instances given above demonstrate a straightforward distinction. The majority of the movements are issue-specific and aim to achieve a single goal in a short period of time. Others are more broad-based movements that aim to attain a long-term goal. This type of movement is well-exemplified by the Narmada Bachao Andolan.

Narmada Bachao Andolan started with the specific issue of people who are displaced by the creation of the Sardar Sarovar dam on the Narmada river. Gradually, it was a wider movement that questioned all big dams and models of development that required such dams. These types of movements have an active life but are short-lived.

These single-issue movements can be compared with long-term movements that address multiple issues. Examples of such movements include the environmental movement and the women’s movement. There is no single organization in charge of directing or controlling such movements. The term “environmental movement” refers to a wide range of organizations and issue-specific initiatives. All of them have their own organizations, independent leadership, and often opposing viewpoints on policy issues. Despite this, they all share a broad goal and a similar methodology, which is why they’re called movements.

Sometimes these broad movements have loose umbrella organizations as well; like National Alliance for People’s Movement (NAPM) is one organization with various organizations. Many movements struggling on one issue are constituents of this loose organization which coordinates the activities of a large number of people movements in our country.

How do they influence politics?

There are many ways pressure groups exert influence on politics:

1. They try in gaining support and sympathy for their goals and their activities by carrying out information campaigns, organizing meetings, etc., and influencing the media in giving more attention to these issues.
2. Organization of protest activities like strikes or disrupting government programs.
3. Business groups employ professional lobbyists or sponsor expensive advertisements.
4. Most movement groups take a political stance without even being a party and have a major political ideology and political position on major issues and relationships with political parties can take different forms; either direct or indirect.
5. In some instances, pressure groups are formed or led by political parties or act as an extended arm of political parties. An example is student union organizations are either established or affiliated with one or more major political parties and most leaders are activists and leaders of the party.
6. Sometimes political parties can grow out of movements. Like Assam Movement led by students against “foreigners” came to end with the formation of Asom Gana Parishad.
7. In many cases, the relationship between parties and interest groups is not direct, and take positions opposed to each other. Most of the new leadership of political parties is from movement groups.

Is the influence healthy?

It may appear at first that having power in a democracy is unhealthy for organizations that promote the interests of one portion of the population. A democracy must consider the interests of all citizens, not just one group. Furthermore, these organizations may appear to wield power without accountability. Political parties must confront voters in elections, but they are not accountable to the general public. Pressure groups with little public support but a lot of money can sometimes hijack public debate in order to further their restricted objective.

Pressure organizations and movements, on the other hand, have helped to strengthen democracy. In a democracy, putting pressure on the rulers is not a bad thing as long as everyone has the ability to do so. Governments are regularly susceptible to unjustified pressure from a tiny group of affluent and powerful individuals. Public interest groups and movements play a vital role in resisting undue influence and reminding the government of the needs and concerns of ordinary individuals.

Sectional interest groups also play an important role. If one group brings pressure on the government to make policies according to them, counter-pressure is allotted by other groups for against favoritism and as a result, the government gets to know about what different sections of society want and this leads to a rough balance of power and accommodation of conflicting interests.

Drawbacks of Pressure Groups

1. Misuse of Power: Instead of influencing the political process, the pressure groups become tools and implements to kind of subserve the political interests of certain parties.
2. Instability: Unstable and lack commitment, their loyalties are shifted with political situations which threaten the overall welfare and many times resort to violence.
3. Narrow Selfish interests: In India, these pressure groups are organized based on religious, regional as well as ethnic issues. Because of this, instead of serving the purpose of usefulness, they are sometimes reduced to selfish needs.

FAQs on Pressure Groups

Question 1: What are pressure groups?

Answer:

Organizations that strive to influence government policies and decisions are known as pressure groups. They form when people with similar interests, ideas, and aspirations get together to work toward a common objective.

Question 2: What are the tools and techniques of pressure groups?

Answer:

1. Letter writing, petition and writing
2. Direct influence on legislative process
3. Influencing political parties
4. Embarking on legal action
5. Action campaigns

Question 3: What are the pressure groups in Indian politics?

Answer:

Pressure groups refer to a group of people who influence decision making and also the policies of the government. Examples are All Indian Kisan sabha from agrarian group. RSS from religious groups and so forth.