PRESSURE GROUPS AND DEMOCRACY

Some political scientists and politicians have taken the view that pressure groups are non-democratic, or even anti-democratic, in the sense that they intervene in the political process based on electoral accountability. Others take the view that pressure groups actually enhance the democratic process, keeping decision makers and legislators in touch with changing trends in public opinion between elections.

Problems of pressure group activity

> Political representation is based on elections in which every person's vote is of equal value. Pressure groups exist to give greater weight to the views of a particular group - hence undermining the validity of the citizen's vote.

> Democracy is based on the idea that the will of the majority should prevail; if a pressure group is successful, it can be seen as frustrating the wishes of the majority.

> Pressure groups vary enormously in wealth and influence: some are rich and powerful (business organisations, trade unions), others operate on very few resources (for example, the Child Poverty Action Group). And some interests in society are not represented by any pressure groups whatsoever (for example, the unemployed or the homeless).

> It can be argued that some pressure groups are not representative of their members anyway - for example, the AA claims to speak on behalf of motorists, yet there is no mechanism for the AA to find out the opinions of its members, most of whom join simply for the breakdown cover.

Benefits of pressure groups

> The many different interests in society cannot all be encompassed within the two (or three or four) party system. Pressure groups enable sections of society outside of the political parties to have their say.

> Pressure groups can compensate for the inadequacies of the electoral system: geographical representation is supplemented by functional representation.

> Pressure groups enable individuals to participate in the political process at any time, not just every four or five years at elections.

> Pressure groups enable specific interests to be identified and articulated which the political parties may be unwilling or unable to promote.