VSFS:NA_Lob Lobbying - Course Information

NA_Lob Lobbying

Extent and Intensity

2/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).

Teacher(s)

Ing. Ivan Jukl, MBA (seminar tutor)

Guaranteed by

Ing. Petr Mach, Ph.D.
Department of Economics and Management – Departments – University of Finance and Administration
Contact Person: Bc. Kamila Procházková

Timetable of Seminar Groups

NA_Lob/pECPH: each odd Monday 8:45–9:29 S14, each odd Monday 9:30–10:15 S14, each odd Monday 10:30–11:14 S14, each odd Monday 11:15–12:00 S14, I. Jukl

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of the public decision-making processes and content, the ability to promote and to defend own interests.

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is offered to students of any study field.

Course objectives

In recent decades, lobbying has come to the forefront of the interest of the general public, the media and experts from various fields. The birth of modern lobbying in the Czech Republic is connected with the re-establishment of a democratic system and the introduction of a market economy after 1989. According to Italian professor Luigi Graziano "lobbing is a specialized and professional representation through a wide range of instruments that basically exclude corrupt exchange of services". Since lobbying is constantly and unequally developing process/set of activities all over the word the course will be dealing both with its ethical side (how lobbying should be "ideally" done) and with the current practise of succeeding through lobbying (how lobbying is done, the factors of success). For better understanding some elementary theoretical approaches will be explained (game theory, public choice theory, reciprocity principle, agency theory); one of the most important outcomes on students ‘side is the understanding of the phenomena of representation, of acting on behalf of (interested) actors. This way students will be able to analyse and anticipate different actors´ behaviour during decision making process both in executive and legislative branches. An ethical aspect of lobbying will be developed through the optics of its positive and/or negative influence on public decision-making process on different levels. Since the course aims to the international students the role and purpose of international cooperation will be another crucial subject if studying. Special attention will be paid to the main inter-governmental platforms like OECD, Council of Europe or United Nations. In this context principles such as transparency, integrity, accountability or non-discrimination will be discussed.

Since the lobbying activities are mainly connected to the corporate world community the course´s objective is to bring deeper insight into the business political actions/lobbying strategies.

At the same time, the new role of civil society including its own way of increasing its power will be explained using phenomena of fundraising, petitioning or public debates. Understanding different actors´ behaviour in its interaction with modern global and turbulent (not only institutional) environment together with its applicability for the morally sustainable success of students in their own life is an underlying goal of the course.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this course the student will have the following professional knowledge. He will be able to: Define, and understand the nature, context and purpose of lobbying/fundraising
Understand the basic relevant theories/concepts and their interdependence,
Understand the philosophy&principles of ethical behaviour and lobbying regulation using based on best practice of succesful democracies and internaional cooperation (UN, OECD)
Explain and justify why lobbying / fundraising is necessary for all types of organizations,
Clarify how lobbying activities could be implemented within organizations´"big-picture" and why a system approach is needes, Specify processes associated with lobbying / fundraising activities,
Explain the concepts of corruption and conflict of interest.

During the course the student acquires the following professional skills. He will be able to:
Explain concepts, their meaning and content with lobbying related and lobbying related, work with information sources, analyze acquired data and to set targets for individual lobbying / fundraising activities, work in a team, present and defend their own opinion, look for examples of good practice, the benefits of successful lobbyists / fundraisers for promoting / advocating the interests of particular groups in the field of play,
Present a specific profile of the profession in which the key competence is the ability to exert influence ("lobbying"), on specific examples to demonstrate the topics in which the impact is relevant.

Syllabus

• 1. Basic Concepts I: Power; Interest; Conflict; Influence; Public goods; Policy Making; 2. Basic Concepts II: Representation (agency dilemma), Group decision making (individual vs group interest) . 3. Main phases of the lobbying process, stakeholder analysis, position proposals, interventions, conflict resolutions 4. Private actor – typology, interests, social role, activity research. 5. Public sector actors – roles, levels, sectors, actions. 6. Non-governmental actors - characteristics, behaviour, objectives, differences from the public sector. Fundraising. 7. Interests vs. environment; ethics of interests advocacy, conflict of interests, corruption. 8. Building public trust. Principles. Public choice theory 9. Lobbying environment (lobbying and democracy; regulation, policy options). 10. Lobbying as a global issue - inter-governmental cooperation (institutions and their roles, country cases, current issues). 11. Corporate political actions – motivations, models 12. Conflict resolution: lessons learned from diplomacy.

Literature

required literature
• BITONTI, Alberto a Phil HARRIS, ed. Lobbying in Europe: public affairs and the lobbying industry in 28 EU countries. London : Palgrave Macmillan. 2017. 368 s. ISBN 978-1-137-55256-3.
• NOWNES, Anthony J. Interest Groups in American Politics? Pressure and Power. 2nd ed. Hoboken : Routledge. 2013. eBook. ISBN 9781136658068.

recommended literature
• OECD. Lobbyists, Governments and Public Trust. Volume 3. Impl ementi ng the OECD Principl es for Transparency and Integrity in Lobbying. OECD Publishing. 2014. 228 s. ISBN 978-92-64-21421-7.
• EDELBACHER, Maximilian, Peter C. KRATCOSKI a Bojan DOBOŠEK, ed. Corruption, fraud, organized crime, and the shadow economy. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2016. eBook. ISBN 978-1-4822-5531-7.

Teaching methods

The 12-lecture cycle will take place in the full-time form of the lectures and will be supplemented by practical examples of lobbying and fundraising practice as well as discussions on specific topics. Interactive teaching methods will focus on gaining the ability of students to present and defend their opinion, insight, ability to argue. Combined form of study - 4 blocks of study requires continuous preparation of students for mass consultations, which will focus on practical applications in order to optimally use the knowledge of the given subject as well as personal life, leisure activities and business practice. The student acquires professional skills mainly through his / her own processing, case studies and preparation of partial presentations. Learning outcomes of the course unit The course is based on critical thinking focused on presentation, communication and argumentative ability, active approach to the world, open access to ethical discussions. Emphasis is placed not on accurate thinking based on verified qualitative and quantitative data, on the ability to work with information, with trend information and presentation systems. Lobbying and fundraising is a science-based framework of interconnected projects and processes in the public legal environment.

Assessment methods

Assesment: The subject is terminated by a test.
Attendance: Attendance is required at minimum 75% of the lectures (to count for attendance students must actively participate, discuss, interact)
Homeworks: Between the lessons ALL students will be required to fullfil homeworks. Their timely delivery in relevant quality is obligatory for ALL students. Failing in more than 50% of homeworks means NOT QUALIFYING for the final exam.
Exam: Development and presentation of a Lobbying/fundraising project in the minimum extent:
1. The goal of lobbying / fundraising activities.
2. Presentation of the playing field: interest groups, lobbyists, lobbied officials, fundraiser x public
3. List of steps of individual lobbying / fundraising activities, budget.
4.The evaluation of the expected efficiency of lobbying / fundraising.
Combined form students and ISP students: Attendance: The obligation of active attendance in min. 50% of sessions. (to count for attendance students must actively participate, discuss, interact)
Homeworks: Between the lessons ALL students will be required to fullfil homeworks. Their timely delivery in relevant quality is obligatory for ALL students. Failing in more than 50% of homeworks means NOT QUALIFYING for the final exam.
Exam: Development and presentation of a Lobbying/fundraising project in the minimum extent:
1. The goal of lobbying / fundraising activities.
2. Presentation of the playing field: interest groups, lobbyists, lobbied officials, fundraiser x public
3. List of steps of individual lobbying / fundraising activities, budget.
4.The evaluation of the expected efficiency of lobbying / fundraising.
Late attendance is not accepted. Activities during the course not related to the course (tablets, phones, etc.) are not tolerated.

Language of instruction

English

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)

The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: 12 hodin KS/semestr.

Teacher's information

Lecturer IVAN JUKL is a person with rich experience in institutional as well as corporate lobbying. He used to help Czech companies to do business in the Scandinavian markets. He is former General Director of Czech Trade (govt agency supporting export) and currently he works in a diplomatic position for the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Regarding the Lobbying course please do follow the texts uploaded in the IS as well as interesting tips for reading provided during lectures. Most of the materials provided to you in IS (course file) will be explained and discussed at the lectures.

All the best!

• Enrolment Statistics (Summer 2021, recent)
  
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