1. POLI 112 POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS
Session 10: Pressure Groups
Lecturer: Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO, Department of Political Science

2. Pressure Groups Defined
A pressure group is an organized group of individuals who at any point in time may seek to influence the policies of government in their own chosen direction but unlike Political Parties, they are never themselves prepares to directly run the affairs of the government of their country. Examples of pressure groups in Ghana include the Ghana Bar Association, Ghana Medical Association, University Teachers Association, National Union of Ghana Students, etc. These are also called Interest Groups because they exist and operate to promote the interest of their members
Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO, Dept of Political Science, UG

3. Theories of Origin of Pressure Groups
It is for example practiced in Britain while the
Theories of Origin of Pressure Groups
The Group Theory – This basically states that in general, all politics is a group conflict and political decisions are arrived at as a result of the conflict between organized pressure groups. Group theory like other Political Science theories raises very complex issues and is presented in a way which is extremely difficult to grasp. But basically, they try to answer the question as to how pressure groups originated.
Social Forces or Social Equilibrium Theory. This is one of the earliest versions of the Group Theory, propounded by David Truman. The theory states that social change of the kind that happens when a society moves from an agricultural to the industrial level of development disturbs in a profound way the normal equilibrium or balance of society.
People therefore organize themselves into a form of association to defend and protect their values and goals in order to restore a certain degree of social balance
Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG .

4. Theories of Origin of Pressure Groups (Cont)
Incentive Theory – Mancur Olson reasoned that social change by itself would not lead people to form pressure groups. People form pressure groups only if there is some incentive to motivate the people to join. The incentive to join a group exists when two conditions are fulfilled. First, Economic benefits to be gained by members. Second, members join because of social pressure
Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG

5. Functions of Pressure Groups
Putting together the various interest of its members – Interest aggregation
Making know the interest and challenges confronting its members with the view to seeking redress and attention of policy makers – Interest articulation
Offering expertise view and knowledge on what can be done to tackle national crisis when needed
Keeping governments on their toes and making them accountable and responsive to the needs of the citizenry
Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG

6. The Problems Pressure Groups Create
Through needless strikes and demonstrations, they can paralyze the economy of the country and reduce productivity
Their actions can also make the country ungovernable
They are sometimes selfish as they work to promote the interest of only those who belong to them
Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG

7. The Problems Pressure Groups Create (cont)
Moreover, pressure groups exercise non-legitimate powers in that their leaders unlike politicians are not publicly accountable. They seek to influence leaders who have been elected but they themselves may be representing a small minute section of the entire populace
 Their activities also promote elitism as its members are drawn from a certain class of society
Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG

8. Some Images of Activities of Pressure Groups
Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG

9. Image of Pressure Group Activism.
Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG

10. Image of Pressure Group Activism on Radio
Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG

11. Tools Used to Champion The Interest of Pressure Groups
Strikes,
Demonstrations,
petitions,
protests,
boycotts,
lobbying
Threats
Assassinations
Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG

12. Reading List
Refer to Unit 5, pp. 87 to 100 of Poli 112 (Political Institutions) Modules
Gyampo, R.E.V. The state of Political Institutions in Ghana, (Saarbrucken, Germany: Lambert Academic Publishing Inc. 2012) pp
Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG

13. Concluding Remark THANK YOU R.E.V GYAMPO
Dr. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG