Key Messages
Uncovering the Dark Side of Politics: The Power and Perils of Corporate Influence in the UK
In A Quiet Word, readers will discover the dark influence lobbying has on politics.
Lobbying is when commercial businesses and corporations attempt to influence government decisions for their own benefit.
Companies and multi-nationals can spend billions of dollars in an effort to sway legislatures and alter laws in their favor.
A Quiet Word examines why, at least theoretically, lobbyism isn’t all bad – but it also goes into detail about how easily these powerful companies are able to exploit democracy and manipulate the political process.
One particularly disturbing example that is used to illustrate this point comes from British shopkeepers who were unknowingly working as agents for the tobacco giant Philip Morris.
The book also reveals how international oil giant Shell managed to deceive critics into allowing them to extract gas in Peru despite large protests against it.
This example serves as a reminder of just how influential lobbying can be in the machinations of world politics today.
The Complex Nature of Lobbying: How It Can Both Help and Hinder Good Governance
Despite its bad reputation, lobbyism isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
It can be used to promote the common good and help keep politics and outside interests in touch.
Most of the time when people think of lobbyism they think of big businesses using it solely for their own profit.
However, contrary to what you may think, lobbyism can actually bring about good governance when used in the right way.
Lobbyists can provide vital insights that politicians need in order to make intelligent decisions.
They also offer experienced perspectives on legislation and politics, helping to reduce the workload for politicians by assisting with tasks like drafting new laws.
In other words, while it’s true that lobbyism is often tied to commercial interests such as big businesses or industries like tobacco or sugar – it doesn’t necessarily have to be used negatively.
It can instead be used positively to improve public services and policy-making processes by keeping politics and external interests in contact with each other.
Understanding the Complexities of the British Lobbying Industry
Lobbyism in Britain has evolved into an incredibly professional industry, made up of a range of actors who pursue the interests of businesses and corporations.
It all began when industrialists realized that with the rise of democracy and more people getting the right to vote, they could be in danger of a redistrituion of wealth.
To prevent this, they created lobbying so that politicians would protect their rights to their riches – and it worked!
Today, London’s lobbying industry is one of the biggest in the world after Washington and Brussels.
What makes up British lobbies? Lobbyists are paid well-known agents used to influence politics through personal relationships with politicians.
They meet with them to persuade them to either adopt or put an end to policies that will benefit their clients’ interests.
But there are other powerful players in the lobbying business too: public relations professionals who work on improving big businesses’ public image; think tanks funded by companies that research and create studies aligned with their perspectives; and institutions like International Policy Network sponsored by oil giant Exxon aiming to misrepresent scientific knowledge about climate change.
Professional Lobbying is a Threat to Democracy
When it comes to democratic processes, lobbying activities can pose a huge threat.
By paying lobbyists to gain privileged access to government officials and decision-making powers, big businesses and industries are given an unfair advantage over those who don’t have the funds for such services – like the public or poorer NGOs.
Furthermore, think tanks and public relations companies funded by corporations and businesses can manipulate public discourse in their favor.
Through misleading research studies, campaigns, and journals the interests of these corporate financiers are represented far better than those of the public.
For example, the sugar industry has been exposed for trying to discredit research about sugar consumption which does not fit their commercial needs.
Through money-backed strategies and tactics, they attempt to undermine rational democratic discourse which is detrimental not only to democracy but also consumer’s health, as it stops there from being an honest discussion about what is safe to consume.
Lobbyists Use Valuable Personal Relationships to Influence Politicians
Lobbyists rely heavily on personal relationships with politicians if they want to be successful in their work, and this has been demonstrated by the fact that many of today’s top lobbyists are current or former politicians.
In particular, there are numerous examples of active politicians who have turned to lobbying when they have left office, as well as government officials and advisers who have taken up lobbying even whilst still serving in their post.
This is particularly true in the United Kingdom, where a number of former Members of Parliament now work as lobbyists for various firms.
This means that these experienced politicians have the inside knowledge and contacts needed to ensure that the interests of their clients are being adequately represented in the corridors of power.
These connections can then be used to persuade members of the government to take stances which suit their employers, such as opposing tax increases which might hurt their profits.
All-in-all, it is clear that having personnel with a strong political background can be invaluable for any lobby group hoping to get its point across effectively.
Therefore it’s no wonder that many leading lobbyists come from a political background
The Dark Arts of Lobbyists: Uncovering Corporate Influence Through Third Parties
Big businesses don’t always rely solely on personal relationships with lobbyists to push their agendas.
In some cases, they may need a more subtle approach, in order to avoid any negative publicity from the public.
As such, these companies will turn to third parties to do the job for them, since these groups are seen as more credible.
For example, think tanks and scientists can be paid by businesses to conduct biased research that serves the company’s interests.
In 2009, Philip Morris International even got shopkeepers involved in its efforts to prevent stricter regulations on selling cigarettes in Great Britain.
These third parties are useful for a few reasons; possibly the most important being that it gives an air of credibility that corporations can’t afford by themselves.
If Philip Morris had taken it upon themselves to challenge the new law, citizens would have assumed that all they cared about was increasing their profits – which wouldn’t make them seem too favorable in the eyes of the public.
But getting small shop owners involved made their plea appear much more sincere and sympathetic – giving governments and citizens greater reason to consider their arguments carefully.
How Lobbyists Fight Fair (or Not) to Protect Big Business Interests
One essential part of lobbyism is dealing with criticism that threatens the interests of big businesses.
Critics, such as social movements and NGOs created to bring attention to corporate unethical practices, can damage a corporation’s reputation and can lead to boycotts and reduced profits.
To counter these effects the lobby industry employs public relations strategies which seek to manage criticism.
For example, inviting critics to an open-table talk in the hopes of convincing them that change is not necessary.
But if these more subtle tactics fail, they will aggressively threaten critics who continue their activism – threatening legal action or intimidating filmmakers like Fredrik Gertten whose movies are critical of corporations like Dole.
Ultimately, understanding how the lobby industry operates and behaves when it comes to dealing with criticism is a crucial part of taking effective actions towards reforming corporate practices for the betterment of society.
The Need for More Transparency in the UK’s Lobbying Industry to Achieve Democratic Accountability
In the United Kingdom, lobbying activities have largely been kept out of public scrutiny – an ongoing effort on the part of the lobby industry to protect themselves from interference and regulation.
This lack of transparency is not just harmful for democracy; it also allows lobbyists to operate unchecked, without any oversight or accountability.
The need for a more open discussion about lobbyists’ agendas has been made apparent by this situation.
A register for lobbying activities would ensure that details such as who exactly is working as a lobbyist, who they work for and how much money they make becomes publicly available information.
This kind of move towards greater transparency would help make conversations around the various interests and issues lobbied by these individuals accountable, allowing more democratic decision-making within this business sector.
The United States serves as an example here with their system which exposes the financial industry’s spending on lobbying from 1998 to 2008 – $3.4 billion – and clearly shows who is a lobbyist fighting against increased financial regulation (i.e., many ex-US government officials).
With this kind of transparency, lobbyism can be made much more fair, open and democratic in the UK – resulting in positive outcomes for all involved parties.
The British Public Is Aware of and Concerned About the Consequences of the Lobbying System, But Regulations Have Failed to Bring Real Change
The British public is well aware of the hidden nature and consequences of the lobbying system, and polls have shown that most believe their needs are less likely to be taken into account than those of big corporations.
To combat this, politicians, including Prime Minister David Cameron, have recognized the need for greater transparency in recent years.
Despite the obvious problem, there seems to be little hope that the British government is willing or able to regulate lobbyism.
Though officials proposed a register of lobbyists back in 2013, it proved too limited to make a real difference and few lobbyists were actually affected by its passing.
This means that the fight for more transparency must still be waged, as it looks like a successful outcome may still be out of reach.
Wrap Up
The Quiet Word, written by former lobbyist Anita Halvorssen, provides an important look at the modern lobbying industry and its risks to our democracy.
It is a powerful reminder of the power of for-profit corporations who, through a variety of tactics, attempt to influence public opinion and politics for their own benefit.
Halvorssen highlights the need for citizens to become aware of the dangers that lobbyists can bring as well as developing more effective rules and regulations to ensure the lobby industry is transparent for all.
This book provides essential insight into a phenomena that carries significant implications for our society’s future.
