Pressure Groups – Formal and Informal Associations and their Functions

Pressure groups and formal and informal associations are one of the most important institutions or groups in a democratic nation. They play the role of pressurizing the administrative and the political system of a nation.

They help to put across the other viewpoint of the people and make them feel that their interests and opinions matter.

Characteristics of Pressure Groups in India

1. Inadequacies of Political Parties

The pressure groups are basically an outcome of the inadequacies of the political parties. The political parties make big promises to the poor population of the country. But, with time it does not fill in those promises. This incapability of the party gives rise to the pressure groups in the country.

2. Use Modern and Traditional Means

Pressure groups use both modern and traditional means. Traditional means include the exploitation of creed, caste, and religious feelings to promote the interest of the group. The modern means include sponsoring some of their close candidates, providing finance to the political parties, and more.

3. Represents Changing Consciousness

The pressure groups are widely known to represent the changing consciousness. Like, the stagnation in production leads to resignation but an increase in production leads to demands, protests, and the formation of new pressure groups.

4. Certain Interests

Different pressure groups have different and have specific interests under which the group’s structure is set. It is often observed that each political party or a system seens to be pressurized by the pressure groups. These groups are in some way or the other similar to each other.

5. Results out of Increasing Pressure and Demands on Resources

There are various reasons that lead to the formation of a pressure group. The scarcity of resources and claims and counterclaims on them are some of the reasons.

Due to the continuous demands of the generation (both rich or poor), it has been observed that these groups have emerged more out of the rich than the poor. Where the poor demand for food and shelter, the rich section of the society demands better and stable working conditions and opportunities.

Techniques used by Pressure Groups in India

There are different techniques used by the pressure groups to secure their purposes. Some of them are –

1. Lobbying

Through this technique, they aim to persuade the public officers to see if they are favorable towards them or not. They aim to get their support by talking about the policies that might favor them.

2. Propagandizing

By this technique, they try to influence public opinion to gain an indirect influence over the ruling government.

3. Electioneering

In this technique, they aim to post those public office persons who are favorable towards the interest of the group.

Major Pressure Groups in India

Some of the major pressure groups in the country, which can be classified into various categories. The examples of each of the categories are as follows –

Functions, Role, and Importance of Pressure Groups in India

1. Agent of political socialization

By influencing the orientation of the people towards the political process, they act as the agents of political socialization. They also provide links for the communication between the people and the government.

2. Vital role in the legislative process

Pressure groups in the country play a vital role in the legislative processes of the country. They are the active agencies that are engaged in lobbying with legislatures.

3. Help in improving the quality of the government

By putting forth a rational view, it enables the government to make the decisions that favor different sections of the society. The information provided by these groups caters to the government with an added bit of information regarding the same.

4. Facilitate social progress

By bringing into consideration different concerns of the sections of the society, it helps to facilitate social progress. It also puts forth the issues that help them in their respective political agendas.

5. Accountability of the decision-makers

Opposition parties and pressure groups complement each other by bringing in light the wrongdoings of the ruling government. This helps to hold the government accountable for the decisions that they make. This further promotes better and quality decisions by the government.

Shortcomings of Indian Pressure Groups

1. Misuse of Power

The power that the pressure groups exercise can be misused in such a way that their influence on society can be used to serve the political interest of the group. They are unable to exert pressure on the political processes.

2. Instability

Throughout the years, it has been observed that the pressure groups do not remain stable. In fact, they lack commitment. It has been observed that their loyalties shift to the political situations which end up threatening the general welfare.

3. Selfish interests

Though the groups are formed with a purpose to serve the society with time, they end up catering to their selfish interest. These groups are generally found to be associative to a specific religion, region, or caste.

Pressure Groups and Political Parties

The pressure groups and political parties are not alike. They hold a lot of differences and a few similarities. Both of these groups play an important role in a democratic nation like India.

Where political parties fight with each other in the zest to earn power and authority, pressure groups do not have any such agenda. A political group works according to a particular ideology but pressure groups do not have any such ideologies.

The interests of a pressure group are specific. However, both of them carry out the representation, facilitate political participation, and also contribute to the policy process.

Pressure Groups and Interest Groups

There is often a confusion between the understanding of the interest groups and pressure groups. however, it is important to realize that these two terms are not alike, and are hugely distinct.

Unlike the pressure groups, interest groups are not organized groups of people that seek to promote specific interests. Some of the characteristics of Interest groups include –

1. Interest groups are well organized.
2. These groups have specific shared interests.
3. These specific interests unite the members of the group.
4. The members of this group aim to protect and promote the interests that they have united.

Types of Pressure Groups in India

1. Institutional Interest Groups

An institutional interest group is the one that is made with the purpose of raising its voice by constitutional means. The members of this group are professionals who are already a part of the government machinery.

Some political parties, bureaucracies, armies, and legislatures could be a part of such a type of pressure group. Some examples of an Institutional Interest Group can be the IAS Association, State civil service association, and more.

2. Associational Interest Groups

An associational interest group is the one that is made to pursue some of the limited goals. This group includes trade unions, civic groups, industrialists, and more. Some of the examples of the Associational Interest groups include NSUI, AITUC, etc.

3. Non-Associational Interest Groups

A non-associational interest group has an informal structure. These groups are articulated by the family and the religious heads. They include caste groups, groups, language groups, etc.

4. Anomic Interest Groups

An anomic interest group is formed out of a spontaneous breakthrough into a political system. These breakthroughs could be riots, assassinations, demonstrations, and more.

Conclusion

Pressure groups are now one of the most indispensable parts of a democratic system. Being unnoticed for a long time, now these groups have made their place in the system.

Since politics and the lives of the people are becoming complicated every next day, it becomes vital to put across their viewpoints and opinions.