PRESSURE GROUPS

PRESSURE GROUPS

A pressure group is an organized group of people for promoting and defending their common interest and bring about a policy change by generating public opinion and subsequently exerting pressure on the government from outside.

Types of Pressure Groups

Role of Pressure Groups

1. For Citizens
   • Agents of political awareness: They influence people towards the political process and play a role as two-way communication between the people and the government.
   • Increase government accountability: Information & Reports help course correction in government policy. For example, ASER report on the state of education in India.
2. For Government
   • Better policy formulation: Inputs from Pressure groups help in better policy formulation. For example, economic policies through inputs of CII, FICCI, etc.
   • Source of reforms: Example – Electoral reforms due to Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), National Food Security Act due to actions of PUCL.
3. For Society
   • Increase social cohesion and political stability: Since people get a ‘safety-valve’ outlet for individual and collective grievances and demands.
   • Progress of society: By bringing in mainstream concerns related to the environment, etc. For example, Green Peace, SEWA.
   • Targeting ills of society: By speaking against the wrong in the country. For example, India against corruption.
4. Supplement Democracy
   • Keeps the government in touch with public opinion. Example – RTI movement, Anti-corruption movement.
   • Give a political voice to minorities and articulate concerns that are overlooked by minorities. Example – Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan.

Techniques of exerting influence

• Direct Action: Strikes, blockades, boycotts, etc. These can be violent or non-violent.
• Provision of Expertise: Through technical inputs, research reports to the government.
• Supporting political parties: By providing manpower, funds so that when a party comes in power their interests can be promoted.
• Lobbying: Including closed-door engagements with politicians, civil servants to fulfill their interest.
• Forming Public Opinion: Through campaigns, research, reports, etc.
• Use of Press: Through opinion polls, interviews.
• Through Political Representatives: Strive to elect people sympathetic to their cause, elite representation on behalf of pressure groups.
• Illicit means: Like bribery or corruption.
• Support to legislature/executive in policy making: Drafting laws, conducting surveys. Example – Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy conducted a survey on behalf of 15th Finance Commission on cess and surcharge.

Difference between Pressure Groups and Political Parties

Challenges/Impact

1. Economic Impact
   • Advance a particular section and their interests: Example – ASSOCHAM wants the government to limit the import of cheap grains, mainly pulses from Africa.
   • International relations: Can impact actions of the country in international space. Example – India not joining RCEP due to lobbying by the dairy sector.
2. Social Impact
   • Decisive Tendency: The Gharwapsi movement of Vishwa Hindu Parishad to facilitate re-conversion of non-Hindus to Hindus has soured relations between Hindu and Muslim communities.
   • Minority advancement: Pressure groups may represent a powerful minority force in society and exert political influence to the detriment of the majority of society. This is an argument often leveled at trade unions and business groups.
   • Hardship to common man: The use of direct action by pressure groups (e.g., strikes by unions, demonstrations, blockades, pickets) can cause hardship to the community in general.
3. Internal Challenges
   • Unviable: Temporary in nature, lack of resources.
   • Governance issues: Lack of transparency in their funding, lack of internal democracy.
4. Political Impact
   • Non-legitimate Power: They are not elected, however, tend to influence the working of the government.
   • Political Inequality: Tend to empower the already powerful.

Due to the complexities of modern government, and the pluralistic nature of Indian society, pressure groups provide a means by which ordinary citizens can participate in the decision-making process, as well as maintaining a check on government activity. Similarly, governments can be better informed of the electorate’s sensitivities to policies because of the pressures exerted by these groups.