Characteristics of Pressure Groups
- Use of both Tradition and Modern Means: Financing political parties, sponsoring their candidates, etc. are some modern means and traditional ones include the exploitation of castes, creed, and religious feelings to promote their interests.
- Increase Pressure and Demands on Resources: The result of scarcity of resources, and claims on resources leads to a steady rise of pressure groups.
- Inconsistencies of Political Parties: Nonfulfillment of the promises made by the political parties and not working constantly at the goals promised, lead to discrepancies.
Pressure Groups and Movements
A pressure group refers to a group of people; who are organized activities for promoting and defending their common interests. It is called so for bringing a change in public policies by the exertion of some pressure on the government and also acts as a catalyst between the government and its members.
Pressure groups are also referred to as interest groups or vested groups and they differ from the political parties; as they do not contest in elections and also do not try to capture political power. Protection and promotion of their members from the influence of the government are one of their primary concerns. They influence policy making and policy implementation in the government through legal as well as legitimate methods.
These groups come in a variety of shapes and sizes :
- From the standpoint of purpose, self-seeking, and altruism.
- With regard to the point of tenure, ephemeral and long-term; and with regard to the formal or informal bureaucratic organization, taking into account the fact of power position.
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