Associational groups
Topic: Civil Society, Pressure Groups, NGOs and Self-help Groups · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Associational groups are one of the four types of interest groups in the Almond-Powell typology (1966). They are formally organised to speak for one specific interest. They have members, office-bearers and clear goals. They are the most common kind of pressure group. A pressure group is an organised group that tries to influence the government without contesting elections. Associational groups use methods such as lobbying, memoranda, media campaigns and strikes.
Example
Trade unions such as AITUC (1920) are associational groups. So are chambers of commerce such as FICCI (1927) and professional bodies such as the Indian Medical Association (1928).
Don't confuse with
- Non-associational groups: these are informal and based on caste, kinship, religion or region. Associational groups are formally organised.
- Institutional groups: these work from inside the state, like the bureaucracy. Associational groups are outside the state.