The meaning of the word "lobby" has certain features depending on the point of view from which the term is considered. It should be said that the concept itself can be considered a kind of cornerstone for understanding the whole topic. What does it mean to lobby? This question requires a very detailed and detailed answer. Let's analyze the concept in more detail, and also find out what synonyms the term "lobby" has.
Legal point of view
In this approach, lobbying is interacting with the authorities in a specific way. Citizens, public associations, groups, individuals, enterprises, organizations can take part in the process. In turn, they specialize in lobbying activities. Other subjects of legal relations may also take part in the process. The main purpose of this interaction is to influence the adoption of the necessary individual decisions, namely: administrative, official, political and other legislativeacts. Lobbying of interests can be carried out on an ongoing basis.
Institutional Approach
From this point of view, the concept is one of the functions of the political system. It provides a relationship with the aim of influencing the subjects of the specified system. In this case, to lobby is to maintain balance in society. Within the framework of the system-functional approach, the method is considered as a special kind of activity that complements the electoral process.
Other points of view
In the framework of the instrumental approach, the concept is a number of ways and options for influencing the development of significant government decisions. From a communication point of view, an official trusts a specialist to lobby for interests in order to save resources (intellectual, information, contact). In the procedural approach, the definition is one of the organic components of the bureaucratic system, as well as the course and rules of the state decision-making process. From a pluralistic point of view, the term should be understood as a special kind of activity. All lobbyists participating in interactions are one of the parties in the system of development and adoption of significant government decisions. In the framework of the corporatist approach, the concept is also a kind of activity. Only the most influential organizations take part in it. In this case, lobbying means influencing the development of significant government decisions using the resources of the mentioned associations.real possibilities. Within the framework of the psychological approach, the concept is an influence with the aim of manipulating persons endowed with certain power.
Lobbying activities
From a formal point of view, to lobby is to participate in all types of interactions that contain a set of certain methods of influencing decision-making by public authorities. This activity, like all other types, contains procedures, operations, techniques and special modes of operation. Lobbying is closely related to the equipment, means and tools used.
Details
Classic technologies of lobbying are quite widely known. They represent the execution of the following elements:
- Contributions to election campaigns.
- Speeches in relevant committees of a state body, as well as participation in various hearings.
- Publishing the results of parliamentary votes on bills.
- Organize advocacy activities related to preparation and decision-making.
- Development of bills and their submission for appropriate discussion.
- Holding scientific conferences attended by government officials.
- Presentation of research results, in particular social surveys, to authorities and the media.
- Cooperation with the press (including the transfer of information).
- Organization of receptions and meetings for government officials.
- Bribery of officials:indirect and direct.
- Applying publicity stunts to promoted bills.
All of the above elements are included in the lobbyist's main arsenal.
Private Data
Representatives of lobbying activities are extremely reluctant to share their professional methods. It is unlikely that anyone will want to gain short-term fame in exchange for really effective ways to get a lot of income. Among other things, most of the ideas about such technologies are wrong. The main ideological component does not have any scientific basis. Alleged schemes are based solely on hearsay and are almost never backed up by actual statistics.
Agents of influence and their implementation
These dummies infiltrate the apparatuses of relevant departments and the structures of competing companies. The principle of lobbying is based on the fact that any system (a group of individuals, an organization, political institutions, etc.) must be taken under control for further control or destruction through the introduction of its agents. This makes it possible to influence the adoption of various decisions. Lobbyists can direct their activities to the imposition of regulations and agendas for consideration of controlled aspects. To accomplish this task, it is necessary to introduce agents into public monitoring bodies in power. It is also very advantageous to have representatives in the relevant authorities. It is widely practiced to impose obviously inefficient facilities on competitors. Those who outwardly seemquite promising. Using this method, you can force competitors to waste various resources and quickly acquire the status of incompetent specialists.
Wooing officials to their side is carried out not only through negotiations, but also by presenting current events in a favorable light for themselves. Accordingly, they can be modeled. There is the possibility of artificial creation of local crises, the main task of which is to influence the decision maker. With this leverage, you can push him to choose the most profitable option for lobbyists. Crisis tendencies must be projected onto competitors. For example, a situation has arisen in which the authorities are forced to increase the amount of taxation on part of a particular sector. Care should be taken to direct these unfavorable elements to competing companies. In this situation, the best way out would be to use a kind of payoff. It is beneficial to establish active cooperation with federal and regional associations. These formations specialize in protecting interests in public authorities and can be very useful. The pyramid principle is best suited for selecting and acquiring allied parties. It lies in the fact that the larger the base of the structure, the higher its top.
In closing
The lobbying organization must have a detailed understanding of the personal weaknesses of important members of competing structures, andalso their agents. However, this data may not always play a key role in the process. The use of such information can be extremely effective in isolated situations. In any case, high awareness contributes to saving a significant part of the resources. Of particular importance is working with a competing organization. Professional lobbyists will always be able to find elements with which to discredit the boss.
