Author:  Sheree Anne Kelly, Senior Vice president Public Affairs Council

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Disruptor #1: Millennials

The real disruptive impact is that many GR professionals have not adjusted their strategies or tactics to actually reach, influence and engage the new generation. Today millennials are serving as legislative or regulatory staff, increasingly taking office as policymakers and holding positions in media or as online influencers.

Disruptor #2: Low Trust in Big Institutions

1. Speaking not in terms of personal integrity, but rather in terms of the responsible, professional handling of conflict situations.
2. Recognition, as the basis for government ethics rules and administration, of the fiduciary duties of government officials and employees, the appearance of their conduct to the community, and how officials’ handling of conflict situations affects the public’s trust in those who manage their community and public participation in the government.

Ethics training is a useful tool for strengthening ethics and preventing corruption in public administration if applied together with other tools as part of a comprehensive anti-corruption and pro-integrity policy. Ethics training alone cannot produce sustainable results, especially in countries with high levels of corruption.

Political support and "leadership from above"

Author: Thomas M. Susman

Edited

Rules of conduct and codes of ethics often provide quite detailed roadmaps to assist the lobbyist in traversing ethically dangerous terrain. Some of these codes look like laws, but they are distinguishable because they are largely not enforceable. Others may be enforced through the disciplinary processes of professional organizations

Source : August 2017- Pew Research Center

NO CONFIDENCE (Combines "not too much confidence" and "no confidence at all.")

The overarching purpose of US trade policy, the guiding principle behind all of US actions in this key area  is to expand trade in a way that is freer and fairer for all Americans. Every action the US takes with respect to trade will be designed to increase economic growth, promote job creation in the United States, promote reciprocity with US trading partners, strengthen US manufacturing base and its ability to defend itself , and expand agricultural and services industry exports.

Lobbyists need information on policy proposals, intelligence on policy developments, and knowledge of the positions of other advocates active on a policy debate. Much of this can be gathered from simply talking with other lobbyists and thus some level of networking is expected on every issue. But the question remains: why move beyond networking to build more formal ad hoc issue coalitions? An ad hoc issue coalition is a very specific type of coalition of groups, one which forms for a single discrete issue fight.

There are many reasons why companies are continuing to hire consultants, or hiring them at increased levels. Often, corporate executives lament they are being asked to do more with less e.g. insufficient financial resources, insufficient staff.

Source: Daniel Guéguen- European Lobbying

Lobbying strategies can be divided into four categories (negative, defensive, reactive, or pro-active) with two variables (the soft or hard method).

Negative lobbying strategies

Secessionism is on the rise all across Europe, with movements in search of  independence from their central governments. Almost no European country regardless of the form of government is immune to subnational mobilisation movements. According to rough estimates, there are 100 groups in 29 countries that are seeking greater autonomy from the central government or self-determination. These groups greatly differ in terms of hostility towards the central government, popular support, and most importantly readiness for independence.