Nature of Pressure Politics

Pressure in politics means an influence directed towards the attainment of certain ends which are limited and specific is not public or general. Pressure politics, therefore, is a skilful method of influencing the government by organised groups for the attainment of their special and limited interests and programmes. Methods employed may be open or secret, through public action or friendly and private contacts by the lobbyists. The aims, objectives and programmes of a pressure group are, however, not adopted by the votes of its members or of the public, but are

decided upon by its officials and promoters. Everything is decided behind the screen, in great secrecy. Having adopted its programme, the group presents its proposals to the government in such a way as if they are for the good of all the people or the whole country. It always rationalizes its own interests to make them appear advantageous to the entire nation. It thus disguises its special interest under the garb of national interests. For example, in U.S.A., a protective tariff is pictured as a measure for developing infant industries and maintaining the American standard of life against the competition of the underpaid foreign labour. At the same lime, it manufactures ‘public opinion’ and then insists that the officers of the government or law-makers must always obey the ‘public opinion’, which is, of course, largely created by the pressure group itself.

Functions of the Pressure Groups:

Although political thinkers like Rousseau, Hegel, Green, and others are critical of the role of pressure groups in the State as divisive and particularistic, they perform important functions in the modem democracies.

Firstly, they provide information of a specialised and technical nature to the government, and administrators, which enable them to make laws and enforce them, or make policies and implement them. For this purpose, the representatives of the pressure groups appear before the legislative committees or administrators and their professional staff provide vital information to the legislature, or to the administrators.

Secondly, they act as intermediaries between the people and the government. They transmit and communicate ideas from the people to the government. They enable the people to participate in the activities of the government. They enable the government to ascertain the reactions of the people to the government policies. In between two elections they act as watchdogs over public policy and administration, at the time when the people can exercise little or no influence on the government. In this respect, pressure groups are more effective than the political parties.

Thirdly, they act as a check on political extremism. One group may demand one type of policy from the government, while another may oppose it.

Fourthly, the minority parties and communities, and such other small groups can influence government through their pressure or interest groups.

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