Pressure Groups GapFill

The competition of different groups within society seeking influence and power is a key feature of a   majoritarian democracypresidential democracyparliamentary democracypluralist democracy. In this regard, pressure groups play a vital role in democracy. Pressure groups can be divided into two main types. Those which seek to influence policy directly by gaining influence within government are known as insider groups. Those which seek to attract publicity and influence public opinion on a broad scale are known as outsider groups. As we will see, sometimes pressure groups attempt both of these strategies, but they are usually more successful at just one of them.   

The primary strategy of insider groups is  public opinionlobbyingresearchdisruption, in which pressure and persuasion are applied directly to specific legislators, such as Members of Parliament. Another key strategy used by insider groups is  researchdisruptionpublic opinionlobbying, meaning the group can point to evidence it has produced in order to strengthen the case for reform. Insider groups tend to be older and more established, and as a result are better connected to government and Parliament. They also tend to practise  ambitionshort-termismstubbornnessrestraint in their aims, meaning they focus on more specific and achievable changes to the law, rather than widespread reform. Corporations, academics and policy think tanks may also try to exert influence using similar methods, although they are not necessarily as well connected to government.

In contrast, outsider groups will often focus on a strategy of  disruptionpublic opinionpublicitylobbying through the media in order to influence  lobbyingdisruptionpublic opinionpublicity. They may achieve this through campaigning or the organisation of a  disruptionpublic opinionprotestlobbying movement which seeks to cause   lobbyingdisruptionpublicitypublic opinion within parts of society in order to spread its message. In contrast to insider groups, outsider groups tend to be newer and have a larger number of supporters among the public, but far fewer connections within government. Often they will have broader aims and seek to influence not just the government but also wider society on a range of issues. Large international NGOs (non-governmental organisations) tend to use similar methods, though in some cases they may have better connections to government.