strategy
Lobbying
Synonyms:
PressuringActivating political interest groups
Bringing to bear steady input of political interests
Influencing constitutional suffrage
Description:
Soliciting votes or other support for one's cause from decision makers especially legislators through interviews, letter writing and other forms of communication.
Implementation:
Interest groups influence legislation by contributions to candidates running for public office, communications to legislators and constituents, payment of retainers, promotion of mass demonstrations, withdrawal of financial aid, and threats of physical violence.
Claim:
Most people would regard such lobbying as a legitimate and basic right in any democracy. Politicians need to be aware of the needs (and wants) of various sectors of the community and to be exposed to a range of policy ideas.
Counter Claim:
Lobbying by well-financed and organized pressure groups can circumvent prevailing public opinion. Law-makers are forced to legislate on the basis of the loudest voices and financial incentives. It undermines the democratic legislative process by going outside the formalized system.
Broader:
Acting-IdlingInfluencing-Freeing Narrower:
PetitioningLobbying politiciansActing as pressure groupInfluencing through writingPromoting transparency in tradeInfluencing judicial leadershipLobbying on environmental issuesLobbying on biological agricultureInfluencing intergovernmental policyInfluencing media on humanitarian issues Facilitates:
Promoting interestsReducing racist violenceCreating constituency suffrageHiding extent of lobbying largesseCampaigning Facilitated by:
Forming opinionsEmpowering lobbying proceduresChannelling aligned political pressureImproving NGO access to international policy debates Problems:
Incomplete utilization of external relationsOfficial privilege
Structural failure of citizen participation
Vulnerability of government to lobbying
Values:
InterestSelfishnessSelf-interest References:
Smucker, Bob: The Nonprofit Lobbying Guide Subjects:
Birds, Mammals → CarnivoresCommunication → Influencing
Government → Political
Government → Politics
Law → Constitution
Type Classification:
A: Abstract fundamental strategies Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
