Pressure Group

A pressure group may be defined as any group of people bond together by some common interests or profession that engage in some activities to influence government policies to their own advantage. Pressure groups are not interested in direct governance or in contesting elections. E.g. Nigerian Union of Teachers, Nigerian Bar Association, Market Women Association etc.

TYPES OF PRESSURE GROUP

• Economic pressure groups: These pressure groups focus on the well-being of their member. e.g. Manufacturers Association,  NACCIMA etc.

• Professional or occupational pressure groups: these are pressure groups embracing workers of the same occupation who try to protect their works. E.g. Nigerian Medical Association, Nigerian Bar Association, Nigerian Union Of Teachers etc.

• Religious pressure groups: these are pressure groups that belong to the same religion and which to influence government decisions in favour of their beliefs or members. e.g. Christian Association of Nigeria, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs. 

• Promotional groups: these are pressure groups that promote some causes which may not directly their members. E.g. Human Right Groups and the Red cross.

• Anomic pressure groups: these are interest groups that use violence, demonstrations, arson, assassination, strikes and the like in expressing their aims and objectives. Street demonstrators and student riot groups are examples.

FUNCTIONS OF PRESSURE GROUPS.

• Pressure groups try to make the government more attentive to the needs of the people.
• Pressure groups provide specialized and expert information to the government on their interest.
• They help to educate their members and the whole society on their fundamental human and political rights.
• They promote and protect the interest of their members. E.g. Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on special scale for its members.
• They promote certain general welfare services. E.g. The Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) offers the legal services in court.

MEANS ADOPTED BY PRESSURE GROUPS TO ACHIEVE THEIR AIMS.

1. Strikes and boycotts: Occupational pressure groups may employ strikes and boycotts to achieve their aims where other means fail.

• Lobbying: This involves representatives of pressure groups trying to persuade legislators to pass laws that are favourable to their members.

• Publicity campaigns : Pressure groups organized intensive  campaigns through meetings, rallies, hose-to-house campaigns, posters, handbills, stickers and conferences to attract public support and get their aims achieved.
• Mass media: Pressure groups advertise and sponsor programmes on the radio, television and in newspapers to convince the citizenry.

• Letters and petitions : Pressure groups write letters of information and complaint to officials of the legislative or executive arm of the government to try to convince them of their view point.

Factors That Limit The Success Of Pressure Groups

• Lack of funds: shortage of funds limit the operations of pressure groups.

• Ineffective leadership: a week and effective leader debars a pressure group from achieving its aim and objectives.

• Poor organization: pressure groups that are not well organized will not be able to achieve their aims and objectives.

• Method of operation: pressure groups that are militant tend to achieve their aims and objectives faster than their counterparts that employ only negotiations.

• Instability of government: pressure groups get confused about who to address and what objectives to pursue in a situation of political instability due to frequent change of government and policy.

COMPARISON BETWEEN POLITICAL PARTIES AND PRESSURE GROUPS.

• Both organizations are involved in bringing together interests of different segments of the society.
• Both organizations are politically vital for a democratic polity.
• Political parties are usually well-organized with defined leadership structures, but most pressure groups are not.
• Pressure groups may be present and active in political parties while the political affiliations and interests of members are of no concern to pressure groups.

ASSIGNMENT

What are the dangers posed by the activities of pressure group?

State the differences between political parties and pressure group

EVALUATION

1a.  Define pressure groups

1b.  List types of pressure groups.

2.Account for the means adopted by pressure groups to achieve their aims.