Public Affairs (political advocacy) is a field undergoing rapid development—and that is a good thing, because it plays an important democratic role. But when the Power and Democracy Study 2.0 puts the industry in the spotlight, we can use that clear light to ask ourselves: Are we doing well enough? And can we do better?
Public Affairs, which has existed for as long as politics has existed, is fundamentally a benefit to society when we manage it correctly.
It enables more stakeholders to be heard, extending the democratic shaping of policy to the part of politics that sits outside the thick walls of Christiansborg.
It gives politicians better conditions for legislating. When the body of regulation has more than tripled since 1990 without more politicians in the Danish Parliament, it is clear that there is enormous pressure for knowledge and precision. That is what we deliver.
It gives reality a chance at Christiansborg and builds bridges between those who legislate and those who feel the consequences.
And it provides an ongoing dialogue between society and the state. Democracy does not take place only every four years, but continuously, and the PA industry ensures an ongoing dialogue between elected representatives and voters.
But if we are not to be choked by our own success, both results and processes must be brought further into the light. That benefits everyone—because who would want to keep their strengths in the shadows?
The Power and Democracy Study points to several things, and the public debate over a number of years points towards some fundamental challenges:
Lack of transparency about who you work for
It is important to be transparent in political advocacy so that democracy can see who is influencing it. In the past, it has been a challenge in the industry that actors have hidden in the shadows in their advocacy until cases came to light. At FRIDAY, we are fully transparent towards stakeholders, regardless of type, ensuring the highest possible ethics and credibility and helping to ensure that decisions are made on an informed basis.
Meetings on behalf of clients
In an industry where candidates, politicians and advisers can occupy different roles at the same time, it can be a problem if clients can hire advisers who, in the worst case, are also elected and can take meetings on their behalf. It is not just a screen between the client and the issue; it also happens in an industry where it should not be possible to distinguish between private interests and politicians. At FRIDAY, we do not take meetings on behalf of clients, but provide training in both media and messaging and ensure you have the best possible advice and the best possible materials before, during and after.
Rules for clients
Does everyone have a right to Public Affairs, just as they have a right to a great kitchen? Not with us. An industry depends on backbone and ethics, and not all clients and industries are ones we want to work with. If the industry makes room and grants access to everyone, it becomes the law of the strongest and takes speaking time from those who are most right and gives it to those who are richest (sometimes those two categories are the same). At the same time, it creates greater opportunities for foreign or unethical influence on politics, which in turn creates an opaque democracy for all the citizens looking in from the outside.
These guidelines and signposts are only possible if the work delivered is good, proper and reasonable—in other words, if it can also withstand public scrutiny. These are the signposts we work by at FRIDAY, and which we hope others will also follow across the rest of the industry. And with transparency as a tool, those who do things properly can also increase credibility and trust—not only for the industry, but for society, citizens and democracy.