Conference of the British Sociological Association, 1955. IV Pressure Groups in British Government.

The article focuses on pressure groups in the government of Great Britain, discussed at the Conference of the British Sociological Association in 1955. Party is an important focus of pressure groups and channel for influence. There is a view of the constitution which assert that influence on decisions ought to be exercised only through parties prepared to submit to the judgment of the electors. There is also similarity between bodies in so far as they have evolved working techniques of influence; there are also differences of internal structure, and these seem to be related to the history and technical character of individual interests, rather than to any grouping by type of interest. The reputation of a pressure group is one of its means of influence, and it would be insane for any group to endanger it for small temporary gains. Pressure through elections may be declining but there is no doubt that organized attempts to alter the climate of opinion are important in British politics. In spite of the implications of the word pressure, there is not much doubt that the most effective of techniques is the appeal to reason. Some social and intellectual prestige is necessary to ensure that your information is what the best people believe to be the best; and there is an element of management in seeing that information is planted in places where it will reach decision-makers. The organized groups are indispensable in the execution of policy as in the making of policy.