question_answer

Explain how the activities of Pressure Groups are useful in the functioning of a democratic government.

Or

In what ways do Pressure Groups and movements exert influence on politics.

 

Answer:

The activities of pressure groups and movements exert influence on politics as well as democracy in a variety of ways:

(i) Gain  Public   Support  and Sympathy: pressure groups try to gain public support and sympathy for their goals and their activity by carrying out information campaigns, organising, meetings, file petitions, etc.

Most of these groups try to influence the media into giving more attention to these issues.

(ii) Role of Invisible Government and Unofficial Government: pressure groups are part of a under political process. They protect the collective interests of its members and try to influence those in power like the ministers, bureaucrats, politicians, etc., to change the direction of policy and not to capture power.

(iii) Articulate, Forms and Linkage of Communication: Pressure groups articulate the claims of their members.  They are a form of linkage and means of communication between the masses and the elite. Pressure groups provide a scope for expending participation and are barometers of the political climate.

(iv) Organise Protest Activity: Pressure groups often organise protest activity like strikes or disrupting government programmes. Workers organisations, employees, associations and most of the movement groups often resort to these tactics in order to force the government to take note of their demand.

In this way Interest Pressure Groups and movements do not directly engage in party politics, they seek to exert influence on political parties.