From Brightlingsea to Twyford Down, and from OutRage! to Charter 88, British society has a strong tradition of single issue campaigning. This book provides a thorough and up-to-date anlaysis of British pressure groups and the political environment in which they operate. Rob Baggott begins by explaining the theories of democratic pressure group politics put forward by political scientists. He then goes on to explore the impact of Thatcherism, the growth of commercial lobbying, and the increase in lobbying at the European level and through high profile media campaigns. He also covers the internal workings of pressure groups, their role in the policy-making process and their relationships with political institutions and the media.