Drawbacks of Pressure Groups
- Misuse of Power: Instead of influencing the political process, the pressure groups become tools and implements to kind of subserve the political interests of certain parties.
- Instability: Unstable and lack commitment, their loyalties are shifted with political situations which threaten the overall welfare and many times resort to violence.
- Narrow Selfish interests: In India, these pressure groups are organized based on religious, regional as well as ethnic issues. Because of this, instead of serving the purpose of usefulness, they are sometimes reduced to selfish needs.
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.