Pressure Groups and Formal Informal Associations and Their Role in the Polity

Pressure groups and formal / informal associations and their role in the Polity for GS2Pressure Groups        Originated in USA Group of people who are organised actively for promoting and defending their common interests Exert pressure on the government or the decision-makers for the fulfilment of their interests. Attempt to bring a change in public policy by exerting pressure on govt. Acts as a liaison between govt. and its members Concerned with specific programmes and issues Their activities are confined to protection and promotion of interests of their members by influencing govt. Difference between Interest groups and pressure groups Interest Group Formally organized Pressure Group strictly structured Interest-oriented Pressure-focused May or may not influence the policies of govt. Must influence the policies of the government Softer in outlook Harsher in attitude More or less protective Protective and promotive Methods Used 1. Legal and legitimate: a. Lobbying b. Correspondence c. Publicity d. Propagandising e. Petitioning f. Public debates g. Maintaining contacts with their legislatures 2. Illegitimate & Illegal : a. Strikes b. Violent Activities c. Bribery d. Corruption Different Techniques in securing their purpose 1. Electioneering – Try to place public office persons who are favourable disposed towards the interests they seek to promote 2. Lobbying – Try to persuade public officers to adopt and enforce policies – Lobbying since govt in democracy is substantially affected by public opinion Pressure Groups in India Sr.BJP Bhartiya kisan union (North India) All india Kisan Sabha (Oldest & Largest) Revolutionary peasants Convention (organised by CPM in 1967. Bengal chamber of commerce of Calcutta 2. Voice demands of industrial workers 2. Group Type Group Name FICCI (Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry) 1 Business Groups ASSOCHAM (Associated Chamber of commerce and industry of India) FAIFDA (Federation of all Indian food grain dealers association) AIMO ( All India manufacturers organisation) 2 Trade Unions 3 Agrarian Groups AITUC (All India trade union congress) – CPI INTUC (Indian national trade union Congress) – Congress HMS (Hind Mazdoor Sabha) – Socialists UTUC (United trade union congress) – CPM Hind Mazdoor parishad . Indian merchants chamber of calcutta 3. Indian merchants chamber of Bombay 2. Central commercial organisation of Delhi It represents foreign British capital Sole representative of grain dealers Raise concerns of medium sized industry 1. Propagandising – Try to influence public opinion and gain an indirect influence over govt. Associated either directly or indirectly with political parties Represent farmers and agricultural labour class .3. South Indian chamber of commerce of Madras It represents major industrial and trading interests Constituents – 1. gave birth to naxalbari movement) Bhartiya kisan sangh – Gujarat R V Sangham (By C N Naidu in Role Constituents – 1. Also known as labour groups 3. No. All India students Student federation ( By CPI) Organisations NSUI – National Students union of India ( By Congress) PSU – Progressive Students Union (BY CPM) 1.Tamil Nadu) Shetkhari Sanghatana (By Sharad joshi in MH) Hind Kisan Panchayat (By Socialists) All – India kisan Sammelan (By Raj Narain) United Kisan Sabha ( By CPM) 4 IMA . Affiliated by various political parties 6 RSS – Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh VHP – Vishwa Hindu Parishad Religious Jamaat – e.Indian Medical Association BCI – Bar council of India IFWJ – Indian federation of Professional Organisations working journalists AIFUCT – All India federation of university and college teachers 1. Formed to represent student community 2.National Socialist Council of Nagaland TNU – Tribal National Volunteers in Tripura People’s liberation army in Manipur All – India Jharkhand They represent narrow communal interests . lawyers. Raise concerns of doctors.Islam Organisations Ittehad – ul – Mussalmeen Anglo – Indian Association Shiromani Akali Dal 7 8 Caste Groups Tribal Groups Nadar Caste Association (TN) Marwari Association Harijan Sewak Sangh NSCN . journalists and teachers 2. Pressurise govt by various methods including agitations for improvement of their service conditions 5 ABVP – Akhil Bhartiya vidyarthi parishad (By BJP) AISF . their solidarities and their conflict .Role of Pressure groups in Polity  Political processes are conditioned by group actions and interactions.  These representative organisations have a relative autonomy and an operative logic of their own that cannot be reduced either to the preferences of individuals or to the solidarities of the groups that compose them.make independent contributions in determining political outcomes. thereby facilitating social progress and preventing social stagnation. which is a fundamental principle of liberal democracy.  Pressure groups are a product of freedom of association. Consultation with affected groups is the rational way to make decisions in a free society. thereby enhancing the quality of democracy.  They form distinctive subsystems within the polity.  Pressure groups enable new concerns and issues to reach the political agenda.  Formal institutions of government .  Freely operating pressure groups are essential to the effective functioning of liberal democracy in three main ways: o They serve as vital intermediary institutions between government and society.the information and advice provided by groups helps to improve the quality of government policy and legislation.  Pressure groups improve the quality of government. and o They provide important counterweights to balance the concentration of power. and o By enabling opinions to be weighed as well as counted. this leading to people having little or no influence over decisions made between elections.  They overcome the democratic deficit as most people’s political participation is to cast a vote every five years.  It makes government more efficient by enhancing the quality of the decision making process .their procedures and substantive policies . and minority views not being represented  Pressure groups increase participation and access to the political system. o They assist in the dispersal of political power.  They complement and supplement electoral democracy in two main ways: o By providing an important mechanism by which citizens can influence government between elections.  "Representation" is the key relationship between such groups and the making of authoritative decisions.can have a significant and enduring effect upon groups and organisations that represent them. the women’s and environmentalist movements.  These groups . . For example. prevention of corruption. These act as pressure groups on the government. They provide a channel for people to express their grievances and also work constructively for the change. These are run by ordinary persons who feel strongly committed to certain issues. contest elections. RSS supports the BJP. by and large.  Pressure groups assist the surveillance of the government by exposing information it would rather keep secret. to promote implementation of policies in their areas of concerns. they only influence those who are in power for moulding decisions in their favour Pressure groups do not contest elections. and participate in election campaign Political parties are always wedded to their ideologies Political parties have policies and programmes with national and international ramifications Civil Society Organizations: A New Form of Mass Pressure Tactics in India         Civil Society Organizations broadly refer to the active participation and engagement of men and women in groups – associations. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are established by citizens of the country. etc. price rise. Pressure groups increase social cohesion and political stability by providing a ‘safetyvalve’ outlet for individual and collective grievances and demands.g. Civil Society is an interface between the state and individual. it is. thereby reinforcing and complementing work of opposition through political parties. . a cultural organization Pressure groups do not seek direct power. Difference between political parties and pressure groups Political Parties Pressure groups are not primarily political in nature. voluntary agencies on the issues of common concern like environmental protection. organizations. E. Many ordinary persons come together informally or formally to share their feelings about different issues and prevailing social injustice.  Pressure groups thereby improve the accountability of decision makers to electorates. to pursue certain interests. they only support political parties of their choice Pressure groups do not necessarily have political ideologies The interests of the pressure groups are usually specific and particular Pressure Groups The political parties are basically political The political parties seek power to form the government Political parties nominate candidates. Civil Society Organizations help to reach out to many people. Some important leaders of Civil Society Organizations in recent times include Aruna Roy (Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan). even acting as a space for teaching and learning ‘good citizenship’. and  many others. Such organizations put pressure on the government for changing policies on many important issues such as corruption. Medico Friends Circle (MFC).  They point out when the government is not fulfilling its promises to the nation. In the North-Eastern State of Manipur. Apunba Lup (students’ organization) and Meira Paibis (women’s groups) are trying to influence the government to listen to people’s genuine grievances. human rights. Irom Sharmila wants that the government should repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) which is responsible for violence in her State and other parts of North-  East India. child labour. National Alliance of Women’s Organizations (NAWO). People take up issues of gender discrimination. livelihood of different people. Many of the organizations and groups believe in following non-violent method . women empowerment. Some of the Civil Society Organizations include Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS. They attract idealistic and committed young people. Together. Such organizations are able to mobilize public opinion because these issues are relevant to many people in society.  and contribute through individual and collective action. street children and so on. Ela Bhatt (Self-Employed Women’s Association). many groups including ‘Just Peace’. National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM). People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL). a civil rights activist known as ‘the Iron Lady of Manipur’ who has been on a hunger strike since November 2000. Rajasthan). and respect people’s democratic right to life All these organizations involve a large number of people who struggle to bring about  changes in State policies. Medha Patkar (Narmada Bachao Andolan) and Anna Hazare (India  Against Corruption).  environmental protection. Present Scenario  The 21st century witnessed the active involvement of people through civil society  organizations which could be seen in number of protest movements across country. educational and health issues. these groups are associated with Irom Sharmila. .  Mass media in its full swing of working can openly criticize the government and have right to place their view on certain situation.In India for long time there have been single party dominance and these powerful political party do not want to be ruled by any pressure groups. Dominance of single party system .  Act as pressure group for the interest of common people and reveals the all deeds of the government. 3. Focus on parochial interest .Pressure groups do not have well developed infrastructure which can help them in regular way pursuing their interest.Media as Pressure Group  Press is a very powerful means of social change. 2. Varying life span .  Media acts as agent of change.Pressure group lacks stability and commitment which results in shift in their loyalties according to changing political situation. Lack of autonomous existence .In India we have loose and disorganized multiparty system hence even pressure group appears big and small with varying life span that appears and disappears. 6.  Mass media helps to generate a common platform which tries to focus on core issues of the society and its need. Lack of effective membership . 4. Most of them dominated by political parties. which tries to divide each pressure group and have strong hold over one group at least.  Media role is as much important in influencing activities of the political parties as that of other pressure group working to strive certain specific goals. focusing on social development of society Criticism of Pressure groups Pressure group in India are basically criticized on the following grounds1. 5.Most of the pressure groups except business groups does not have an independent autonomous existence of their own. Unstable .Pressure group getting influence by their sectional and local interest more as compared to their common interest. Pushpender Singh (Goodwill entry) . Ineffective for interest articulation .Pressure group involves with protest and certain radicalization of political life results into mass violence.pressure group like trade union in India lacked trained and competent functionaries.Pressure groups in India tries to influence the government mainly through various unconstitutional methods as strikes. For example Naxalites movement starting after fourth general election of 1967 in west Bengal. lockouts etc.7. Threat to democratic set up .The tendency of pressure group to resort to coercion to secure the solution of a socio-political problem in streets could be regarded as a serious threat to democratic set up. 9. Sometimes led to mass violence . agitation. Use of unconstitutional method . 8. They have not been effective agents of interest articulation in India. demonstration. 10.