1. Pressure groups and pluralist democracy
Revision

2. What is a Pluralist Democracy?
A form of liberal democracy in which power is widely dispersed
Citizen participation occurs through pressure groups (as opposed to voting in elections)
Pressure group membership allows people to promote diverse views, interests and grievances to the government
The term can describe an existing system or present a desirable alternative (to parliamentary democracy in the case of the UK)
The UK could not be described as a fully pluralist democracy, though it has clear elements of one

3. What is a Pluralist Democracy?
The key issue is to what extent the UK is a pluralist democracy?

4. Key features of a pluralist democracy
Wide variety of political parties, associations and pressure groups – different political beliefs are allowed to thrive and there are multiple, independent sources of information
Wide dispersal of power among competing groups – power is not concentrated in an elite (though groups need not be equal in power)
High level of internal responsiveness within groups – leaders are accountable to members and decision- making is democratic

5. Key features of a pluralist democracy
Open competition for all groups in the political process – no single group can exclude any other
Impartial government – responsive to outcomes of competing pressure group activity

6. How far is the UK a pluralist democracy?
The UK does have numerous and varied pressure groups (estimates vary, but the number of groups is in the thousands – one source says 7,000)
Governments accept existence of these groups – some are highly involved in decision making
Pressure groups educate the public – awareness of health issues such as smoking and obesity have been promoted by pressure groups, as has domestic violence

7. How far is the UK a pluralist democracy?
Opposing pressure groups compete openly – pro- smoking group FOREST conflicts with anti-smoking ASH; Countryside Alliance conflicted with anti- hunting groups
Pressure groups use digital democracy to enhance pluralism – 38 Degrees, international organisation Avaaz ( both use this means to raise petitions and campaigns

8. How far is the UK a pluralist democracy?
BUT
Financial power and large memberships give some groups considerably more influence – trade unions with regards to Labour; the CBI for both parties
The division of insider groups with influence, and outsider groups without, suggest a clear demarcation of power
Many pressure groups do not exercise responsive leadership, including prominent ones such as Greenpeace

9. How far is the UK a pluralist democracy?
Hostile public opinion can restrict pressure group influence (note here also the influence of the media) – Republic operates in a climate where 80% of people favour retention of the monarchy
Much evidence thus suggests that pressure group activity is actually elitist in the UK, and does not conform to the strict definition of a pluralist democracy
Our parliamentary system is strong enough to be able to ignore the demands of a wide range of pressure groups if it chooses.

10. Functional Representation
Refers to a community that is divided into several strata (or layers)
Each strata has a certain corporate unity and holds that it should be represented in government
Citizens can, or should, be represented according to their membership of economic or social groups
While the UK does not merit this description, discussions of a reformed House of Lords have suggested this form of representation as one option

11. Functional Representation
Pressure groups are thus the main source of functional representation in the UK
This is largely through sectional groups (eg trade unions, professional associations)
Groups can articulate their demands and preferences between elections
Groups protect special interests regardless of changing political climate or election results
Representation of minority groups safeguards against “tyranny of the majority”

12. Functional Representation
Popular dissatisfaction with traditional politics and politicians has led to a resurgence of interest in functional representation – teaching unions and the BMA both feel a need to remind government of the interests of their practitioners against a hostile governing class
We are, however, a long way from having a formal functionally representative system
Pressure groups thus allow for elements of both pluralist democracy and functional representation to exist in a parliamentary system that is based on territorial representation.

13. Elitism and Pressure Groups
Elitism suggests an unequal distribution of power in society, favouring a small group of influential or powerful people over the majority
Various factors might promote such elitism – wealth and social status are two
Elitism assumes a ‘power struggle’ in political society
Applied to pressure groups, elitism suggests some pressure groups are more powerful than others
It contradicts a pluralist theory of democracy
Like pluralism, elitism is a way of defining the distribution of political power in a society; it is applied to pressure groups as they seek to exercise power in society

14. Insider Groups Insider groups rarely have permanent insider status
Key groups often seen as ‘insider’ have recently been unable to exercise decisive influence on policy affecting them – eg BMA with NHS changes, Bar Association with legal aid cuts, Howard League with removal of books from prisoners, Police Federation with regards to police reform promoted by Theresa May.