Pressure Groups, Public Opinion, and Political Parties (Pols 208)

Introduction

Beyond formal state institutions, political life is shaped by non-state actors — pressure groups that seek to influence policy, public opinion that shapes and responds to government action, and political parties that compete for power. This note covers all three, along with the classification of party systems.

A woman with a megaphone 

Pressure Group

Pressure groups are groups responsible for influencing government policy and programmes in their favour. They are not political parties — their aim is not to capture power and control government, but to influence governmental decisions in their favour.

They follow government and press for what they want through lobbying on behalf of their members. Essentially, if it is a group of professionals within the structure of the state or within state institutions, they aim at promoting members' interests through lobbying, propaganda, demonstration, and boycotting.

Types of Pressure Groups

1. Structural pressure group — e.g. NLC (Nigeria Labour Congress) — within the state.

2. Institutional pressure group — within an institution of government, e.g. ASUU, NBA.

3. Professional pressure group — a subset of institutional pressure group.

4. Promotional pressure group — promotes a particular cause as well as the interest of their members.

5. Economic pressure group — promotes economic interest.

Public Opinion

This is the opinion of the generality of the people concerning government decisions and policy formulation. It could be the opinion of the majority — public opinion is not static; it changes depending on the direction of government action.

1. Opinion poll

2. Plebiscite or referendum

3. Mass media

Political Party

This can be defined as a group of people who share a common political ideology, who serve to capture power and control government based on the constitutional principles of the state.

Types of Political Party

It is important to distinguish between political party and party system.

1. Religious political party

2. Ethnic political party

3. Elite political party

4. Sectional political party

Ways of forming Party

1. Cell — a small, tightly-knit unit of a party: a core group of few individuals at the top of the party, including its finance.

2. Militia — mobilizes support for the party.

Types of Party System

1. One-party system (one-partyism) — only one political party is allowed to exist, e.g. Cuba, China, North Korea — mostly communist states.

2. Two-party system (two-partyism) — only two parties are allowed to exist/dominate, e.g. Nigeria under NRC and SDP (1989–1993).

3. Multi-party system — many parties are allowed to exist, e.g. Nigeria (post-1999).

4. Zero-party (no-party) system — individuals can stand and contest elections without party affiliation.

Conclusion

Together, pressure groups, public opinion, and political parties form the main channels through which citizens and organized interests engage with and shape government — the first two influencing policy from outside the formal contest for power, and the party system determining how that power is contested and organized.