Science, Collaboration, and Transparency Against Corruption and Dysfunctional Institutions.
Organized by the Association “Lobbying for Public Interest,” a conference titled “The Future of Lobbying” was recently held. Gathering experts in the field of lobbying, the event aimed to present the river Ibar as a model for effective lobbying in the protection of public interest.
In the introductory part of the conference, Ana Aleksić, the president of the Association, and Miodrag Škundrić, the founder of the magazine “Lobbyists,” addressed the attendees, presenting the Association’s past activities. Over the two years of its existence, the Association has published six publications, forty-two authored articles, produced four films, and plans to conduct lobbying training according to a unified methodology starting from next year.
Continuing the conference, a roundtable discussion titled “The Future of Lobbying in Public Interest” was held. Ana Aleksić presented an article on the ecological and political challenges of the river Ibar, while Aleksandar Marković elaborated on the basic principles of the methodology based on the Swiss model. Siniša Janković emphasized the harmful effects of corruption on society, highlighting the role of lobbying in the public interest, while Bojana Selaković underscored the difference between lobbying and public advocacy, emphasizing the necessity of transparency.
Experiences from practice were also shared at the conference, including presentations of key cases of environmental lobbying in the public interest, both domestically and internationally. Speaker Obi Onyigwe from Nigeria presented successful examples of lobbying in his country, highlighting the challenges posed by corruption.
Dr. Marko Filjović presented the global experience of lobbying in the public interest, highlighting the efforts of the United National Constitutional Research network to influence changes in the United Nations Charter. Within the roundtable discussion, participants shared their views on lobbying and public advocacy, emphasizing the importance of transparency.
The conference conclusions emphasized the existing obstacles in public advocacy and lobbying due to corruption and institutional dysfunction. However, it was emphasized that such efforts should not be abandoned, as the alternative could be a “social tsunami”. Despite the obstacles, progress towards improvement has been observed – there is an increasing influence on institutions, especially with the support of the citizens affected by the initiative.
The response to social challenges should be sought through a proactive and scientifically based approach, establishing collaboration with a wide range of social groups on one hand and increasing the transparency of institutional work. The conference concluded with the message that the key lies in scientifically grounded demands, collective action, and support from a wide range of social actors and transparent institutions. As part of the evening, the magazine “Lobbyists” awarded Certificates of Merit for the special contribution to the development of ethical lobbying in 2023. The laureates were Prof. Dr. Predrag Jelenković, Prof. Dr. Emilija Popović, Prof. Dr. Ana Bovan, Dr. Nenad Vasić, and Prof. Dr. Albert Alemane, who expressed their gratitude for the recognition. Association members also presented the first printed edition of the magazine “Lobbyists,” announcing regular annual publications and the selection of the best articles from the previous year.
In conclusion, the Association extends its thanks to all authors, the Coolmedia team, and friends for their unconditional help and support in launching the first magazine for lobbyists in the Republic of Serbia. The message that marked the end of the conference is that the key to success lies in collective action and support from a wide range of social actors.