Politics Essay: Pressure Groups

Why has the distinction between the interest and cause pressure groups been criticised?

The interest and cause distinction has been subject to increasing criticism. The differences between interest and caue groups are blurred in at least three ways.

The first of these is that some pressure groups have both section and promotional characteristics. For example, some sectional groups such as UK Coalition of People Living with HIV and Aids also carry out promotional activities related to public health and education. In a way, all pressure groups have sectional concerns which are based on the interested of their staff, property and money they own.

Secondly, a single pressure group may include members with both sectional and promotional motivations, for example against a third runway at Heathrow Airport. The protesters included people with sectional concerns such as homes being demolished but also contain people with promotional concerns about the environment.

Lastly, some pressure groups try to mask their sectional motivations by adopting the language and arguments of a promotional group. This happens because moral concerns matter more to the public than self-interest. For instance, the BMA only care for the interests of doctors but will talk in terms of public health, patients welfare and the NHS.

Robyn