Interest and Pressure Groups – Social Issue Essay, Article for Class 12, Graduation and Competitive Examination.

Interest and Pressure Groups

Scheme of the Essay

Exposition: There are many organised groups in liberal democracies. Rising

Action: Definitions of Interest and Pressure groups.

Climax:

(1) Factors on which the working of interest groups depend.

(2) Political culture determines the working of interest groups.

(3) The nature of the problem also determines their stand.

(4) Organisational factors influence their work.

Ending: The interest groups having financial backing are most effective.

There are many organised groups in liberal democracies. Three of them are Interest groups, pressure groups and lobbies. These groups, directly or indirectly, settle the role of the political parties. Political parties are open but these are concealed though they play an important role. Finer calls them “anonymous empires” because they play an important role.

Almond and Powel define an interest group as “a group of individuals who are linked by a particular bond of concern or advantage and who have some awareness of these bonds.” Important characteristics of these are they are non-political; they do not contest elections; their sole aim is to uphold their interest; they are private organisations influencing public policy; they influence political parties including the ruling party their effectiveness lies in the unity among the members. Their member has common objectives and share similar values, they try to build public opinion in their favour. So, interest group represents the social economic and political interest of a particular segment in the polity like farmers, industrial workers, teachers, and businessmen. All social group which influences the behaviour of officers and legislators without attempting to gain formal control.

1. Zeigler defines pressure groups as an organised aggregate” which seeks to “influence the context of the government decision” without attempting to gain formal control of the government. So, a pressure group is an interest group which uses pressure tactics to achieve its goal Its characteristics are formal organisation, special interest no open alignment with any political party, universal in nature, and voluntary membership. Lobby has been defined as the part of the interest group and pressure group that seeks to work and influence, the legislators a decision-making bodies.”

All pressure groups are interest groups but all interest groups are not pressure groups Pressure groups use pressure tactics or even extra-constitutional methods to achieve their goals. But in this respect interest groups are neutral. Pressure group has a bad connotation but interest group does not have anything bad about it.

The lobby is the part of the interest and pressure group and not the whole of it. The members of the interest or pressure group may not do the work of influencing the government decisions. The work may be done by hired professionals.

The working of the interest groups in different political systems is conditioned by five factors (1) the pattern of political institution (2) the nature of the party system (3) the political culture and attitude of the leaders and people (4) the nature of the issues and the problems concerned (5) the character and type of the concerned interest group.

In Britain, cabinet and civil services are more effective so these groups try to have access to them. They do not bother about M.Ps. In the U.S.A. Committees of the Congress are more important and so these groups contact them. In India ministers, party leaders and administration are contacted by them.

In countries where the party system is weak these groups keep a distance from them but in other countries, they may have close contact. The British Trade Union has close contact with the Labour Party. The French CGT has a relationship with the French Communist Party. The Roman Catholic Church is close to Democratic parties of Germany and Italy. In India INTUC (Indian National Trade Union Congress) is close to the Congress party. Secondly pressure groups influence the parties which lack discipline and ideological commitments. That is why congressmen in America are easily influenced. On the other hand the British two party system has resisted the pressure groups’ influence on M.P’s. In multi-party system pressure groups are more effective on legislators as is the case with India.

Political culture means approach, attitudes and beliefs of the citizens to political action and political system. This culture determines the work of interest groups. American political culture shows greater tolerance and acceptability of the interest groups. India allows all types of pressure groups to work because they are tolerant by nature and their approach is that of open society. Secondly the technique of the pressure groups differs according to the nature and character of political culture.

The nature of the problem also determines the working of the interest groups. If teachers ask for the revision of their grades its method of influencing will be different from the methods adopted by trade Unions.

Group also influences their working. For example, Trade Unions are more militant but business interest group would pursue their goals secretly. Farmers hold rallies but service organisations establish contacts with bureaucrats. Secondly the rich interest groups wield greater influence than the interest groups of the poor. Ralph Miliband calls it “imperfect competition” between different groups.

Other factors influencing these interest groups are organisational strength of the group which depends on the discipline in the group. If the members pursue the issue persistently the influence of the group becomes effective. If the interest group is able to get the support of the people for its because it becomes effective. The interest groups having access to decision making bodies are more effective. The interest group having financial resources can pursue their goals properly because then they can carry on propaganda, give bribes and mobilise public opinion. It is said that in Bofors Deal Indian Officials were bribed by the manufacturers.