Political Sociology Perspectives on Lobbying in the EU

This book examines lobbying in the European Union, the practices and social trajectories of interest representatives working in Brussels. Lobbying now occupies a central place in the government of the European Union and is also at the heart of European politics, as shown by the recent Qatargate scandal. The subject of lobbying has a long history in political science, and lobbying the European Union has been the subject of now classic works and specialist journals, testifying to the great success of this subject. However, most of this work have left aside the question of the professional identity, trajectories and social properties of the actors who work on a daily basis in the coproduction of European public action. Indeed, few works have been yet devoted to analysing their concrete practices. Despite the fact that over 12,000 organisations are now on the European Transparency Register, declaring increasing annual lobbying budgets, we still know very little about those who carry out this activity.

Highlights recent changes in the European lobbying landscape Examines practices and social trajectories of interest representatives working in Brussels Looks at what lessons to be learned from a political sociology approach to lobbying

Autorentext

Cécile Robert is Professor of Political Science at Sciences Po Lyon (Institute of Political Studies of Lyon) and a researcher at the Triangle Laboratory, France Her research focuses on interest representation at European level, the uses of science and expertise, transparency and lobbying policies, and depoliticisation processes.

Willy Beauvallet is Lecturer in Political Science at the Université Lumière Lyon 2 and a researcher at the Triangle laboratory (Action, Discourse and Economic and Political Thought), France. His research focuses on the sociology of European and national political officials, the sociology of European public policy, and the sociology of the French and European overseas public policy.

Inhalt

The social conditions of 'influence'. What can the sociology of interest representatives tell us about lobbying at the EU level?.- Lobbying in the Space of EU Occupations: A Relational Analysis of the Auxiliaries of European Politics.- The Brussels Careers of Pharmaceutical Industry Interest Representatives: Porous Borders and the Making of a Group.- Pressure Group or Social Partner? A Political Sociology of the European Trade Union Confederation.- The EU and Bulgarian trade unions: From 'survival' to a 'mark of distinction'?.- What are interest groups doing at the EU level: SMEunited's 'anti-lobbying' activity?.- Out of sight, but close to the heart of power: Mobilising politically for French overseas territories in Strasbourg and Brussels.- Interest representatives of the port sector, a group in the process of Europeanisation.- Regulators and the regulated in European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA).- The Political Sociology of the Lawyer-Lobbyist. Towards a Practice-Centred Approach to Political Influence.- Do MPs make good lobbyists? Lessons from a survey of the French delegation to the European Parliament.