Home 2 How Pressure Groups Operate
Chapter
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

2 How Pressure Groups Operate

View more publications by Edinburgh University Press
To Publisher Page
Pressure Groups
This chapter is in the book Pressure Groups
CHAPTER 2How Pressure Groups OperateContentsGroups and the access points they employ45The traditional outlets used by pressure groups46Alternative outlets57Summary62OverviewPressure group modes of operation are largely shaped by thecharacteristics of the political system in which they operate. In Britain, it isgenerally accepted by many group lobbyists that, whichever party is inpower, the most effective way of achieving their objects is to establish goodlinks in Whitehall so that the group is consulted whenever ministers arecontemplating action or legislation that may affect it. But, for many causecampaigners, Parliament and the public are more likely targets. Manyactivists increasingly find themselves drawn to direct action as a means ofgetting their message across.In this chapter, we explore the types of approaches employed byprotective and promotional, insider and outsider groups as they seek toachieve influence.Key issues to be covered in this chapter•Access points groups targeted by pressure groups•Why groups target the executive: the mutual advantages for either side•Groups and the legislature•How and why groups seek to influence public opinion•Other outlets for group lobbyists and campaignersM536 - WATTS TXT M/UP 7/2/07 11:37 AM Page 44 Gary Gary's G4:Users:Gary:Public:G
© 2022, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh

CHAPTER 2How Pressure Groups OperateContentsGroups and the access points they employ45The traditional outlets used by pressure groups46Alternative outlets57Summary62OverviewPressure group modes of operation are largely shaped by thecharacteristics of the political system in which they operate. In Britain, it isgenerally accepted by many group lobbyists that, whichever party is inpower, the most effective way of achieving their objects is to establish goodlinks in Whitehall so that the group is consulted whenever ministers arecontemplating action or legislation that may affect it. But, for many causecampaigners, Parliament and the public are more likely targets. Manyactivists increasingly find themselves drawn to direct action as a means ofgetting their message across.In this chapter, we explore the types of approaches employed byprotective and promotional, insider and outsider groups as they seek toachieve influence.Key issues to be covered in this chapter•Access points groups targeted by pressure groups•Why groups target the executive: the mutual advantages for either side•Groups and the legislature•How and why groups seek to influence public opinion•Other outlets for group lobbyists and campaignersM536 - WATTS TXT M/UP 7/2/07 11:37 AM Page 44 Gary Gary's G4:Users:Gary:Public:G
© 2022, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter i
  2. Contents v
  3. List of boxes viii
  4. List of tables x
  5. Introduction 1
  6. 1 Classifying Pressure Groups 28
  7. 2 How Pressure Groups Operate 44
  8. 3 Pressure Group Resources and Success 66
  9. 4 Trends in Group Activity since 1979 86
  10. 5 Protest Politics and Direct Action 110
  11. 6 Pressure Groups and the Devolved Legislatures 135
  12. 7 Lobbying the European Union 166
  13. 8 The Abolition of Hunting with Dogs: an English, Welsh and Scottish Case Study 187
  14. 9 Pressure Groups and Democracy 206
  15. References 223
  16. Index 230
Readers are also interested in:
https://doi.org/10.1515/9780748630448-005

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter i
  2. Contents v
  3. List of boxes viii
  4. List of tables x
  5. Introduction 1
  6. 1 Classifying Pressure Groups 28
  7. 2 How Pressure Groups Operate 44
  8. 3 Pressure Group Resources and Success 66
  9. 4 Trends in Group Activity since 1979 86
  10. 5 Protest Politics and Direct Action 110
  11. 6 Pressure Groups and the Devolved Legislatures 135
  12. 7 Lobbying the European Union 166
  13. 8 The Abolition of Hunting with Dogs: an English, Welsh and Scottish Case Study 187
  14. 9 Pressure Groups and Democracy 206
  15. References 223
  16. Index 230
Sign up now to receive a 20% welcome discount
Institutional Access
How does access work?
Have an idea on how to improve our website?
Please write us.
© 2025 De Gruyter Brill
Downloaded on 21.9.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/9780748630448-005/html?srsltid=AfmBOoqtbJqgkeizDYhp0mMN_euBax0-3HmBYrIBGHlNCOJmrZKQwdDs
Scroll to top button