Sectional and Promotional Pressure Groups

Sectional and Promotional Pressure Groups

Sectional groups protect the interests of a section of society and act

on their behalf, they are sometimes referred to as ‘self interest’

groups, some examples of sectional groups include BMA (British medical

Association) and the TUC (Trades union congress). However promotional

groups promote and argue a cause that is for the greater good – rather

than sel interest, examples of promotional groups include Greenpeace

U.K, Amnesty international and shelter.

What methods do pressure groups employ to influence the political

process?

When thinking of ways to influence the political process pressure

groups have to be careful when discussing tactics. They can either

choose to take a direct approach, using direct action which includes

demonstrations or they can opt to take action which is not such high

profile. Either way pressure groups take action in hope to gain

influence in decision making. All pressure groups need to attract

public support if they are to gain a large following to support their

cause which usually had more influence over the government and

political process.

Some pressure groups, in fact nearly all pressure groups use some form

of the media to gain publicity, this usually works well as the media

ands pressure groups have a two way relationship whereby the pressure

groups get to promote their cause and use the media to highlight their

issues and in return the media gets the stories they want. When

talking about using the media it is not just newspapers, although

these are the most popular and effective form of advertisement to use

– an example of this would be when F.O.E and Greenpeace put an advert

in the independent to advertise a walking protest against the Newbury

bypass – around 5,000 protestors attended, Mail shots are also posted

through letterboxes direct to members of the public, this is a way

that pressure groups can reach a large number of people fairly

cheaply. By gaining public support, pressure groups have more chance

of gaining influence when it comes to political decision making.