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5 - Group resources

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 May 2011

Geraint Parry
Affiliation:
University of Manchester
George Moyser
Affiliation:
University of Vermont
Neil Day
Affiliation:
University of Melbourne
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Summary

Groups are fundamental to liberal democratic politics. A political scientist who once claimed that ‘when the groups are stated, everything is stated’ was certainly exaggerating, but it was a pardonable exaggeration. Every reader will be able to think in an instant of a myriad of groups whose activities touch regularly or intermittently on politics, both national and local. They may be nationally well-known groups such as major trades unions or the Royal Society for the Protection of Animals, or they may be relatively obscure local groups concerned to support a hospital or preserve the green belt. As we shall see, around two-thirds of the adult British population belong to at least one group, aside from trades unions, whilst over half either are or have been members of a union or staff association.

There are at least two ways in which groups can be important to participation. First, membership of groups can provide the individual with information about policies and actions which may affect his or her life. Through interacting with others who have like interests, persons become more aware of their social and political environment. Still more should this be so if a person is a member of a multiplicity of groups. In a sense, one has then an upward relationship with the group, using it as a resource. Secondly, where persons are members of a group, they are available to be mobilised in a downward relationship, by the group and its leaders.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 1992

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  • Group resources
  • Geraint Parry, University of Manchester, George Moyser, University of Vermont, Neil Day, University of Melbourne
  • Book: Political Participation and Democracy in Britain
  • Online publication: 03 May 2011
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511558726.006
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  • Group resources
  • Geraint Parry, University of Manchester, George Moyser, University of Vermont, Neil Day, University of Melbourne
  • Book: Political Participation and Democracy in Britain
  • Online publication: 03 May 2011
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511558726.006
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Group resources
  • Geraint Parry, University of Manchester, George Moyser, University of Vermont, Neil Day, University of Melbourne
  • Book: Political Participation and Democracy in Britain
  • Online publication: 03 May 2011
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511558726.006
Available formats
×