Webinar: Lobbying in Times of COVID-19
This webinar will focus on the topic of 'Lobbying in Times of COVID-19'. It aims to encourage a debate and exchange between professionals, academics and students in European public affairs.
The webinar will host three research-based PechaKucha presentations by leading academics on how the COVID pandemic has transformed public affairs practices and influence in Europe. The contributions will focus on concrete and practical implications. The presentations will be commented on by experienced practitioners who will kick off a debate with the audience.
This event is organised in cooperation with the ECPR Standing Group on Interest Groups and Maastricht University Campus Brussels and sponsored by the University Fund Limburg/SWOL. The event is open to public affairs professionals and all citizens, students, and academics intrigued by the topic of lobbying in times of COVID-19.
Programme
Contribution 1: How COVID-19 changed lobbying in ten democracies: Results from the InterCoV project
Dr. Marcel Hanegraaff – University of Amsterdam
"Our research highlights that increased access has been granted mostly to those who have been hurt the most by the crisis."
Dr. Wiebke Junk – University of Copenhagen
Dr. Joost Berkhout – University of Amsterdam
Dr. Michele Crepaz – National University of Ireland, Galway
Contribution 2: EU Lobbying, digital communication and the COVID pandemic
Prof. Dr. Anne Rasmussen – University of Copenhagen
"We find that the COVID-19 crisis substantially increased political access to EU policy-makers among business interests relative to NGOs but that the picture is reversed with respect to public outreach on social media."
Dr. Gregory Eady – University of Copenhagen
Contribution 3: Lobbying for hospitality: Crisis advocacy on Twitter by the hospitality sector in seven democracies
Dr. Iskander De Bruycker – Maastricht University
Cora Saxenberger – Maastricht University
“The hospitality sector has been surprisingly constructive in its advocacy on Twitter.”
Practitioner discussant 1:
Mieke De Regt - BIPT-IBPT
"The pandemic forced to rethink how to advocate your positions to legislators in Brussels. Whereas parliamentarianism and politics lives from looking people in the eye and holding (informal) talks, remaining present and continuing to communicate was still feasible, however more so for those lobbyists who had already established their network."
Practitioner discussant 2:
Aaron McLoughlin - FleishmanHillard
"Getting access has become far easier."
Speakers
How COVID-19 changed lobbying in ten democracies: Results from the InterCoV project
EU Lobbying, digital communication and the COVID pandemic
Lobbying for hospitality: Crisis advocacy on Twitter by the hospitality sector in seven democracies
Practitioner discussants
- in workshop
- in academic session
- in conference