2006-50445 January 27, 2010

SOC 112 – D
Protest and Pressure groups

Protest and Pressure groups have one essential difference: they have different methods of dealing
with problems which arise in the society and that are primarily caused by the abuse of power. The actions
of protest and pressure groups are grounded on different types of power relations. According to the
framework of John Scott, a developed form of power which is termed as domination can be classified into
two, depending on the method used. These two methods are domination through constraint and
domination through authority. Domination through constraint is facilitated through coercion and
inducement of the ruled class by the rulers. In contrast, domination through authority is facilitated through
the expertise and commands of the rulers. As compared to domination through constraint, domination
through authority is more subtle and it uses less forceful and violent methods. According to John Scott,
dominion through constraint uses corrective influences, which control the people. An example of a
corrective influence is the use of a reward and punishment system. On the other hand, dominion through
authority uses persuasive influences such as appeals to beliefs, ideals, and values of the ruled class.

Because there are two types of domination, there are two types of counteractive methods – one
against each type. For domination through constraint, the most common counteractive measure is the
protest. For domination through authority, the most common counteractive measure is the pressure group.
In domination through constraint, protests are the usual method because domination cannot be
overthrown or averted using any other way. Certain groups of people, especially the counter-elite, use
protests to show that they are against the system as a whole. Protests could be seen as the last resort of
groups of people whose appeals for change are not and would not be heard. Protests are definitely not
legal, and they are outside the formal institutions. People who engage in these types of activities only do
so because they know that staging protests is the only way they would be given the attention that they
want. On the other hand, for domination through authority, pressure groups are the usual outlets for
complaints. Pressure groups, compared to protest groups, are accorded with a degree of legitimacy. They
are recognized by the elite to some extent because though pressure groups are against the formal
institutions, some individuals in pressure groups also come from the elite class. Also, in contrast to protest
groups, pressure groups follow the rules set by formal institutions instead of bypassing them and using
“illegal” means of stating their views. This lets them go against the formal institution through legal means
which are accepted by the ruling elite.
 Protest and Pressure groups involve different types of people. Protest groups are primarily
composed of the masses. These are people who have no substantial access to resources, and they have no
ability to induce change through “legal” means which follow the rules set by the elites. Pressure groups,
on the other hand, are composed mainly of elites. This is because they are the ones who have enough
resources, such as power, which can really have an influence on the decision-making process in the
formal institutions. They are the ones who can indirectly induce change by using their resources to
influence others. Protest and pressure groups also have different sentiments, though they both aim to
induce change in the system. Protest groups are more radical. They want to overthrow the whole system
and seize it for themselves because they want to accomplish their goals. They want change, and they want
it to be a large-scale change. On the other hand, pressure groups tend to be more subtle in accomplishing
their goals. They usually simply push, urge, threaten or encourage the elites in power to pass laws, bills,
decisions, and the like which are beneficial to themselves.