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Pressure groups
Pressure groups are a new kind of organization that have come into existence in the 20th century. The genesis of these groups lies in the complexity of modern society. Whenever any legislation is undertaken by the legislative body, it has far too many sections which impinge on far too many interests of groups in society. Pressure groups representing various interests or groups come into existence. They exist outside the legislative bodies. They become active every time affairs of their own group of interest come before the legislature.
Therefore, A pressure group is an organized association which aims to influence the policies or actions of government.
Sociologists have argued that modern man is an “Organization Man”, i.e., he exists as an entity in society only because of his association with some organization or the other. In other words the sociology of modern times is more a sociology or groups of people in the form of organizations rather than people as individuals. Furthermore, this particular development in modern life calls for a reinterpretation of the organization of power and authority in modern times. Long back power and authority has ceased to be monolithic in nature. Now with the growing importance of organization it is tending to be pluralistic in nature.
Methods
These pressure groups influence public policy through donations, substantial contributions to various public funds, gifts to various political parties, distribution of remunerative jobs in industrial firms and educational institutions and construction of temples and Dharamshalas etc. The largest business organisations is the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, which represents forty thousand firms and has a very effective office at New Delhi-which works as a sort of lobbying agency. As those business houses also control the press they are able to exercise deep influence on public opinion. The business organisations exert influence and pressure in numerous ways. They take part in the consultative bodies and occasionally lobby MPs; they try to influence the Planning Commission and other economic Ministries regarding the priorities. While contacting the decision-making authorities and making them change an aspect of a policy in their own interest, they may meet the concerned person in an informal manner.
A pressure group is a non-political organisation, while the political parties are political organisation.The objective of pressure groups is very limited viz.; to protect the interests of a particular group or section and its organisation is very simple. The political parties not only possess an elaborate organisation but their objectives are also quite general. The pressure groups do not directly participate in elections, while the political parties take an active part in the elections with a view to secure majority.Pressure groups work only for the promotion and protection of the interests of their members. The political parties on the other hand aim at capturing government machinery with a view to implement their policies. The pressure groups operate outside the legislative bodies. The political parties work both outside and within the legislatures.
Some of the pressure groups function within the political parties in the form of representing a particular view-point. Here the members of such groups do not receive any kind of remuneration from the people whom they are expected to help they are primary interested in gaining control of the party machinery. And there by they hope to wield power in the eventuality of the party winning elections.
Pressure groups appear in a variety of shapes and sizes. The two most common classifications of pressure groups are between sectional and promotional groups, and between 'insider' and 'outsider' groups. Sectional groups (sometimes called protective, functional or interest groups) exist to advance or protect the interests of their members. The 'sectional' character of such groups derives from the fact that they represent a section of society: workers, employers, consumers, an ethnic or religious group, and so on. In the USA, sectional groups are often classified as 'private interest groups', to stress that their principal concern is the betterment and well-being of their members, not of society in general. Promotional groups (sometimes termed cause or attitude groups) are set up to advance shared values, ideals and principles. In the USA, promotional groups are dubbed 'public interest groups', to emphasize that they promote collective, rather than selective benefits; they aim to help groups other than their own members. Nevertheless, many pressure groups straddle the sectional/promotional divide, in that they both represent their members' interests and are concerned with ideals and broader causes. Trade unions, for instance, often address the issue of social *justice as well as matters such as wages, conditions and job security.
Alternatively, pressure groups can be classified on the basis of their relationship to government. Insider groups enjoy privileged and usually institutionalized access to government through routine consultation and representation on government bodies. Such groups either tend to represent key economic interests or to possess specialist knowledge and information necessary to government in the process of policy formulation. Outsider groups, on the other hand, are either not consulted by government or consulted only irregularly and not usually at a senior level. Lacking formal access to government, these groups are forced to 'go public' in the hope of exercising indirect influence on the policy process via media and public campaigns.
The pressure groups in India, according to Hanson and Douglas represent “a vital element in the process of political modernisation, in so far as it represents a response to increasing functional differentiation and to the breakdown of traditional type authority.” Within the Parliament we keep hearing of the Birla's Dalmia's and the farmer's lobbies.
