A normative approach on lobbying. Public policies and representation of interests in Argentina

Abstract

Public policies and regulations need to broaden the voices represented in the deliberation and search for solutions to societal problems. The practice of lobbying is a legitimate and legal way to reach public decision makers in order to contribute to a more participatory and plural democracy despite its bad reputation. As a general characteristic, Latin America still has shortcomings in the development of participatory democracy. Due to the lack of an organized civic culture, resources, or ignorance, civil society does not usually use planned methods for an effective exercise of the right to petition public authorities and reduces its areas of incidence to sporadic demonstrations around specific issues. However, it is possible to recognize certain key cases promoted in Argentina by civil society organizations that have achieved their purposes, such as laws related to eating disorders, equal marriage, and assisted fertilization.

The relationship management function of public affairs officers in Chile: Identifying opportunities and challenges in an emergent market

“…This includes indirect lobbying via news organizations or government and community elites. These findings are consistent with previous studies (Fleisher & Blair, ; Ihlen et al, ; McGrath et al, ; Sadi & Meneghetti, ) that indicate that despite the broad scope of public affairs functions, lobbying remains as a key function synonymous to professionals within public affairs. The qualitative nature of our data provided for an interesting finding that is to be explored by further studies.…”

“…Our study adds to previous literature that examines the concept of the public good, that is, public interest, as it relates to public affairs activities (Ihlen et al, ). Whereas public relations scholars argue that successful relationship management entails alignment between organizational and public good, studies similar to the current one that test the reality application of public affairs (Sadi & Meneghetti, ), indicate that there is a gap between assumptions held by academics and those help by practitioners. This disconnect should inform future scholarship on the relationship management theory, and the relationship management function of public affairs, where normative assumptions on how the industry should be, ought to consider real life organizational priorities that are often driven by economic, social, and political realities.…”

“…As a long‐standing practice, public affairs ranges across governmental, corporate, issue advocacy, and interest groups (Griffin, Fleisher, Brenner, & Boddewyn, ; Griffin, Fleisher, Brenner, & Boddewyn, ; Heath, ). As academic and professional interest in public affairs continues to expand, the field is undermined by a lack of consensus regarding the very definition of public affairs and its relation to, or differentiation from, such areas of lobbying, government affairs, and government relations (Fleisher & Blair, ; McGrath et al, ; Sadi & Meneghetti, ). As explained by Heath, public affairs is widely understood as dealing with a “nonmarketplace context” (2015, p. 1).…”

“…As argued, although there is growing public affairs research in the Latin American context (Biggemann, Klimovich, & Thomas, ; Carbone, ; Fisse & Thomas, ; Gozetto & Thomas, ; Hogenboom & Jilberto, ; Sadi & Meneghetti, ; Thomas & Klimovich, , ), such research is still significantly outpaced by similar research set in the United States, European, and Asian contexts. Indeed, McGrath et al () recognize that perceptions of what constitutes public affairs activities may result from geography, supporting the underlying assumption that public relations and public affairs research must be regionally and culturally proximate to the environments they study.…”

“…Second, based on its relationship management function, public affairs is viewed as a public relations subset (Heath, ). Finally, the ultimate outcome of public affairs relationships is a direct focus on public policy outcomes (Davidson & Rowe, ) through a variety of functions including governmental relations, lobbying (Sadi & Meneghetti, ), and corporate activism (McGrath, Moss, & Harris, ).…”