The Seven (7) Functions Political Systems Need to Perform

function definition actors involved

getting people to fulfill all the

political roles associated with the
political system from voters to families/schools/
political recruitment and
leaders; forming positive parties/
socialization
attitudes, values, beliefs and media
opinions which maintain or
sustain the political system

transmitting politically-relevant
political communication parties/ interest groups/ media
information to citizens

interest articulation
interest aggregation
expressing/making demands
parties/ pressure groups
upon the political system
selecting demands and combining
parties/
them into a manageable number
bureaucracy
of alternatives

taking demands and converting

rule-making them into the authoritative legislature
decisions of the political system
administering or putting the
rule
decisions into effect; policy executive
application
implementation

making authoritative decisions

rule
about whether or not a rule has judiciary
adjudication
been transgressed in given cases
A group seeking to influence government
policy or business activity to secure the
interests of their members and
supporters.
 Political Parties and Pressure
Groups
They both of them play an important role in a democracy.

The National Students Union of India (NSUI) provides future leadership

to the Congress.
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) does so for the
Bharatiya Janata Party? It is important to understand that the pressure
groups are different from political parties.

The distinction between the two can be stated as under: Pressure groups
are not primarily political in nature. For example, although Rashtriya
Swayamak Sangh (RSS) supports the Bharatiya Janata Party, it is, by and
large, a cultural organization.
 Pressure Groups: Role and
Techniques
Pressure groups to promote - discuss, debate and mobilize public
opinion on major public issues. In this process, they educate
peoples. These groups try to bring changes in public policy.

pressure groups use various techniques and methods.

Appeals, Petitions, Demonstrations, Picketing, Lobbying, and
Processions. They also write in the media, distribute pamphlets,
issue press releases, organize discussions and debates, put up
posters and chant slogans. They may carry out satyagraha, that is, a
non-violent protest. At times, pressure groups resort to strikes in
order to pressurize the legislators, the executive officials, the
decision-makers.
 Pressure groups as a tool for
effective governance
* Transparency
* Accountability
*People Participation : RTI, Citizen charter, Human Rights
* Effective policy making
* Check and balance
* Pressure groups help to understand loopholes in the
system and provide opportunity to cure them in time
* Efficiency in the Governance which results in Good
Governance
Pro activeness and Attitudinal Disposition
needed to deal with Pressure Groups
* Need to understand the social, economic, political and
cultural background of various pressure groups and their
demands
* Need to take timely decisions according to circumstances and
situations
* Try to fulfill the demands by using appropriate remedies
Crises Management training : Kanhyaikumar
Need to develop problem solving attitude rather than avoiding
it
* Directly Indirectly every decision making authority need to
associate itself with every pressure groups as a human being
because pressure groups are nothing but human agencies
 Pressure Groups in India and
Maharashtra
Traditional social structure : Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Sanathan Dharma
Sabha, Parsee Anjuman, and Anglo-Indian Christian Association.
Caste groups : Sambhaji Briged, Brahmin Sabha, the Nair society
Language groups : Tamil Sangh, Aasama, Belgaon-, Anjuman-e-Terraqi-
e-Urdu
Civil Society Organizations:
National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM)
National Alliance of Women’s Organizations (NAWO)
Aruna Roy (Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan)
Ela Bhatt (SelfEmployed Women’s Association)
Anna Hazare (India Against Corruption).
All Types of NGO’s : Health, Education, Poverty, Development etc.
 Pressure Tactics
In India one of the commonly used pressure tactics is Satyagraha, a non-
violent protest. Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) has
influenced the government to improve its policies on the rights of women
workers.
Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan led the people’s movement which got
the government to bring about the law on ‘Right to Information’.
In the North-Eastern State of Manipur, many groups including ‘Just
Peace’, Apunba Lup (students’ organization) and Meira Paibis (women’s
groups) are trying to influence the government to listen to people’s
genuine grievances. these groups are associated with Irom Sharmila, a
civil rights activist known as ‘the Iron Lady of Manipur’ who has been on
a hunger strike since November 2000.
Media Role and Pressure Groups
Keeping our Positive administrative image in media
is very important
In crises situation decision making authority should
always face media positively with firm arguments
Focus on Policy issues, Administrative law, and
Governance while responding to media
Criticisms
 Pressure Groups can be criticised if:
For small issues if they create larger nuisance :
Lokpal bill
Instead of contributing in good and accountable
governance they only focus on their narrow
interest: Informal labour unions
If they use their power to blackmail and bargain
with government :
 Thank you
Vishnu Shrimangale
shrimangale@gmail.com
mobile- 9765553526
References :

Lokrajya- June-July 2011

Original Literature – Dr. Aambedkar, M.K. Gandhi,
Vivekananda, Mahatma Phule.
Regular Reading – Newspapers, Magazines (English)
Badlata Maharashtra, Y.D. Phadke all Khand
Secularism, Cast, Reservation, Linguistic History
Update Low, Rules and Regulation Information