Lobbying for Social Change

by Willard C. Richan

Overview

This step-by-step guide to lobbying covers it allfrom the basics for beginners to specific techniques for experienced lobbyists

You and I may never achieve major public office, but we do not need to in order to affect public policy.
Author Willard C. Richan

To effect social change, any lobbyist’s case must be presented with skill, knowledge, and confidence. This reader-friendly book shows the way. It assumes no prior knowledge of the subject and provides the nuts and bolts of public policy advocacy (lobbying) in non-technical language. Lobbying for Social Change, Third Edition is organized in a way that easily lends itself to use in the classroom as well as by individual or group advocates, and it is packed with clearly presented case material that illustrates the lobbying process in action. This new edition provides updated case material, expanded coverage of electronic media, and two new chapters; one focusing on direct action for fundamental change, and the other presenting a case history of a grassroots lobbying campaign.

Part I of Lobbying for Social Change, Third Edition, entitled The Basics, will show you how to:

• assess your political resources
  
• set an agenda for action
  
• understand whom to lobbyand how to gauge their power, motivation, and ability to effect or impede social change
  
• gather and use evidence to support your position

Part II, Practical Applications, gives you nuts-and-bolts information about how lobbying is done. You’ll learn:

• how to work directly with policymakers-face-to-face, by mail, by telephone, etc.
  
• effective rules for to testifying in a public hearing
  
• how to make use of the mass media-writing news releases, participating in panel discussions, what to do when being interviewed (and how to increase your chances of being a repeat guest on talk and news shows), and how to effectively work with print and electronic media, including the Internet
  
• ways to take on the system through direct action

Part III, Case History of a Grassroots Lobbying Campaign, takes you inside an actual campaign (in this case, to amend the impendingat the timewelfare reform bill). You’ll see how a group of five Philadelphia area social workers and one feminist activist started the Delaware County Coalition to Save Our Safety Neta coalition that would make a substantial impact on the specifics of welfare in the state of Pennsylvania.

This new edition of the classic manual for lobbyists is packed with vital information for lobbying in the new millennium. We urge you to consider making it a part of your personal or teaching collection today!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781136445156
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	09/05/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	316
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Willard C. Richan

Table of Contents

• Preface to the Third Edition
  
• Acknowledgments
  
• Introduction
  
• The Context
  
• The Policy Cycle
  
• Taking One Step at a Time
  
• PART I: BASIC STEPS
  
• Chapter 1. Assessing Your Strengths and Limitations
  
• Appreciating Your Strengths
  
• Being Realistic About Limitations
  
• Points to Remember
  
• Chapter 2. Setting the Agenda
  
• Rule 1: Know Your Agenda
  
• Rule 2: Decide Between Incremental and Fundamental Change Goals
  
• Rule 3: Be Clear About Your Priorities
  
• Rule 4: Develop Fallback Positions
  
• An Exercise in Agenda Setting
  
• Points to Remember
  
• Chapter 3. Understanding Policymakers
  
• Picking the Right Target
  
• What Makes Policymakers Tick?
  
• Critical Factor: How the Policymaker Defines the Problem
  
• An Exercise in Targeting
  
• Points to Remember
  
• Chapter 4. Preparing the Case
  
• Modifying the Audience’s Definition of the Situation
  
• Strategies of Argument with Four Kinds of Audiences
  
• The Policy Brief
  
• Writing a Brief About Abortion
  
• Now You Try Planning a Brief
  
• Points to Remember
  
• Chapter 5. Gathering Evidence
  
• Kinds of Evidence
  
• The Quality of Evidence: Whom and What Can You Trust?
  
• Conducting the Search
  
• PART II: PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
  
• Chapter 6. Lobbying One-on-One
  
• Lobbying an Elected Representative
  
• Face-to-Face Meetings
  
• Group Visits
  
• Writing Letters
  
• Lobbying by Telephone
  
• Other Types of Lobbying
  
• Lobbying Appointed Officials
  
• Points to Remember
  
• Chapter 7. Testifying in a Hearing
  
• Your Agenda and Theirs
  
• Audiences
  
• Preparing Testimony
  
• Getting Ready to Testify
  
• Giving Testimony
  
• Fielding Questions in a Public Hearing
  
• Points to Remember
  
• Chapter 8. Using the Mass Media
  
• Traditional Media
  
• Seeing the World Through the Printed Page
  
• Radio: The Ever-Present Voice
  
• Taming the One-Eyed Monster
  
• Electronic Media
  
• Points to Remember
  
• Chapter 9. Taking On the System Through Direct Action
  
• The Importance of Advance Preparation
  
• Good Cop, Bad Cop
  
• Direct Action in the Information Age
  
• The Ultimate Loss of Control
  
• Points to Remember
  
• PART III: CASE HISTORY OF A GRASSROOTS LOBBYING CAMPAIGN
  
• Chapter 10. Duck Sauce: Reforming Welfare Reform
  
• Building an Organization
  
• Setting the Agenda
  
• Broadening the Base
  
• The Action Phase
  
• The Beginning of the End for DCCSOS
  
• Chapter 11. Lessons Learned
  
• Bibliography
  
• Index
  
• Reference Notes Included
  

Editorial Reviews

Provides step-by-step suggestions and case examples for individuals who want to have an impact on social policy, especially those with no previous experience. Discusses setting an action agenda, gathering evidence, lobbying, working with a live audience, testifying in hearings, and using the mass media. This second edition contains a new section reflecting changes in the political scene since 1991, looking at middle- and working-class Americans and changes in technology. Paper edition (unseen), $19.95. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews