Assignment task:
Public officials need an integrity framework adapted to the risks of lobbying and other influence activities
Lobbying in all its forms is a legitimate act of political participation. It grants stakeholders access to the development and implementation of public policies and allows policy makers to learn about options and trade-offs. Such an inclusive policymaking process provides opportunities for more informed and ultimately better policies. However, evidence has shown that at times there is a monopoly of influence by those that have the means to overshadow the interests of others. Policies may also be unduly influenced through the provision of biased or deceitful evidence or data, as well as by manipulating public opinion. In addition, foreign influence activities by governments and other actors have raised new global concerns on the integrity of public decision-making and electoral processes.
The lobbying landscape has evolved and more actors are trying to influence policy makers, using practices beyond the traditional definitions of "lobbyists" and "lobbying". While legislation, policies and guidelines on public integrity have been established, less is available on the interaction between public officials and lobbyists. Undue influence persists in many countries, undermining the public's trust in the policy decision-making process. As a result, both governments and lobbyists need not only to face the limitations of their integrity frameworks in the policy-making context but also to strengthen them, to ensure the integrity and inclusiveness of public policies, notably:
The Lobbying Principles call on public officials to "conduct their communication with lobbyists in line with relevant rules, standards and guidelines in a way that bears the closest scrutiny". Public officials should "cast no doubt on their impartiality to promote the public interest, share only authorized information and not misuse 'confidential information', disclose relevant private interests and avoid conflict of interest". They should also "set an example by their personal conduct in their relationship with lobbyists." While the great majority of public officials follow these principles, in some cases, public officials do not abide by them, casting doubt on the impartiality and overall integrity of the public decision-making process.
QUESTION 1:
The Lobbying Principles call on public officials to "conduct their communication with lobbyists in line with relevant rules, standards and guidelines in a way that bears the closest scrutiny". In view of this critically discuss the principles of the New Public Management.
QUESTION 2:
Observers and critics look upon management consultants with great suspicion as manipulators, who seek to influence policy makers to make more money, whilst others take an opposite view, in that, they view management consultants as protecting policy makers from attack on proposed policies, by adversaries, by diffusing blame, and thus provide a layer of protection. Using learnt theory and experience, critically and comprehensively examine both these views, and outline your recommendations, in respect of the use of management consultants within public sector reform initiatives.