Sociology · Ch 8 — The Constitution and Social Change
Political Parties, Pressure and Interest Groups in Democratic Politics
Political Parties, Pressure and Interest Groups in Democratic Politics
In a democracy, the government is not the only actor. Every morning’s newspaper shows groups trying to make their voices heard and draw the government’s attention to their grievances. These groups are part of the wider political process, and they operate alongside — and often in relation to — political parties.
Political parties are the key actors in a democratic form of government. A political party can be defined as an organisation oriented towards achieving legitimate control of government through an electoral process. It is an organisation established with the aim of achieving governmental power and using that power to pursue a specific programme. Parties are based on certain understandings of society and how it ought to be.
In a democratic system, the interests of different groups are also represented by political parties, who take up their case. Different interest groups will work towards influencing political parties. When certain groups feel that their interests are not being taken up, they may move to form an alternative party. Or they form pressure groups who lobby with the government.
Interest groups are organised to pursue specific interests in the political arena, operating primarily by lobbying the members of legislative bodies. In some situations, there may be political organisations which seek to achieve power but are denied the opportunity to do so through standard means. These organisations are best regarded as movements until they achieve recognition.
The textbook gives several concrete examples of such groups in India:
- Industrialists form associations such as the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce (FICCI) and the Association of Chambers of Commerce (ASSOCHAM).
- Workers form trade unions such as the Indian Trade Union Congress (INTUC) or the Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU).
- Farmers form agricultural unions such as Shetkari Sangathan.
- Agricultural labourers have their own unions.
- There are also tribal and environmental movements, which are discussed in a later chapter.
A useful way to observe these groups in action is to follow a newspaper or magazine for a week and note down instances where there is a clash of interests. Identify the issue, the way the groups take up their cause — is it a formal delegation to meet the Prime Minister? A protest on the streets? Writing or providing information in newspapers? Public meetings? Also identify whether the actor is a political party, a professional association, a non-governmental organisation, or some other body.
Box 3.6 illustrates how this works in practice. Every year in February, the Finance Minister presents the Budget to Parliament. Prior to this, newspapers report daily on the meetings that various confederations — of Indian industrialists, trade unions, farmers, and more recently women’s groups — have had with the Ministry of Finance. It is obvious that all groups will not have the same access or the same ability to pressurise the government. …