Pressure groups

Pressure groups are important institutions in modern democratic societies. They cover a broad spectrum, from the large business in high-level contacts at national government and European level to the smallest local group, and embrace an equally wide range of activities, from the secret, behind-the-scenes lobbying to highly visible protest. More people belong to pressure groups than to political parties. Study of the groups and their influence is therefore vital to an understanding of how the political system works. Starting with a definition and some leading examples of pressure groups, this chapter analyses their role in the political system and considers key recent trends in their activities, as well as the emergence of new social movements, before moving to a consideration of their targets for influence and the factors on which that influence depends. There follows a discussion of the debate on ‘pressure groups and democracy’ and the importance of authentic political representation through pressure group politics.