4/11/2020
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B.A.(Hons.) Political Science, Sem.-II
Topic-Pressure Groups
Introduction
Along with political parties ; in present day societies in
political systems, pressure groups play a very significant
role. These groups are found in every political system and
work outside the regular party system. These are active not
only during election times but even before and after that. A
group of men and women who do not appeal to the
electorate on the basis of any programme but who are
concerned with specific issues, is called pressure groups.
Definitions
•According to Richard Watson,’’ An interest group is any
collection of individuals with a shared attitude on some matter
who make certain claims on demands on others in society with
respect to that matter.”
•According to Francis G.Castles,” Any group attempting to bring
about political change ,whether through government activity or
not and which is not a political party in the sense of being
represented ,at that particular time in the legislative body.”
•According to Finer,”Pressure groups are the anonymous empire.”
•According to Alan R.Ball,” A pressure group has been defined as
organised aggregate which seeks to influence the context of
governmental decision without attempting to place its members
in formal governmental capacities.”
Features of Pressure Group
•Limited objective
•Limited membership
•Use of constitutional and unconstitutional
method
•Outside of Government and Legislature
•Organised and inorganised form
•Non-partisan character
•Interests
Causes of the rise of the pressure groups
•Development of Industrial civilization
•Growth in the functions of the state
•System of territorial representation
•Practical nature of Democracy
•Practical form of political parties
•Increase in the number of professional
politicians
Basis for the formation of pressure groups
•Class groups
•Regional groups
•Language groups
•Religious groups
•Caste groups
Types of Pressure Groups:
1-Communal Group
-customary group
-institutional group
2-Federal Group
-protective group
-promotional group
Classification by Almond-
-Institutional
-Non-institutional
-Anomic
-Associational
3-Anomic Group
Techniques of pressure groups
•Creation of favourable public opinion
•Influence on political parties
•Lobbying
•Propaganda
•By providing high jobs
•By arranging strikes etc.
•Providing of information to government
•Consultants on government
