What is the Difference Between Advocacy and Lobbying

The main difference between advocacy and lobbying is that advocacy involves taking various types of actions to bring change, while lobbying involves attempts to influence the decisions, actions, or policies of legislators or members of regulatory agencies.

Advocacy and lobbying have similar goals, i.e., bringing important issues to light. However, they are not the same. Lobbying is a form of advocacy, but not all advocacy is lobbying.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Advocacy 
     – Definition, Features
2. What is Lobbying
     – Definition, Features
3. Difference Between Advocacy and Lobbying
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Advocacy, Lobbying, Policy

What is Advocacy

Advocacy refers to taking action to bring change. It’s an activity by one person or a group aiming to influence decisions within economic, social, and political institutions. Advocacy involves a wide variety of activities. It involves raising awareness and informing the public about an idea, cause, or policy. It can also involve researching new solutions, creating coalitions of like-minded people, as well as public campaigning. The ultimate goal of advocacy is to create change.

Advocacy may involve different techniques. To bring about a positive change, advocates use campaigning, demonstrations, social media campaigns, launching petitions, and commissioning and publishing research. They also mobilize others to take action. These efforts can ultimately sway public opinion, gain press coverage, and even change the opinions of policymakers. When advocacy is done effectively, advocacy provides a conduit for individuals and organizations to voice an opinion and influence public policy.

What is Lobbying

Lobbying refers to attempts to influence the decisions, actions, or policies of legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Moreover, lobbying may involve directly contacting or getting the public to contract the policymakers in order to support or oppose certain legislation. It may also involve advocating the adoption or rejection of certain legislation. Therefore, we can describe lobbying as a type of advocacy.

Although lobbying is a type of advocacy, they are not the same. In other words, not all advocacy is lobbying, but all lobbying activities are advocacy. For example, educating an elected government official about the effects of a policy on your community is advocacy, but asking this governmental official to vote for or against a specific legislation is lobbying.

Difference Between Advocacy and Lobbying

Definition

Advocacy refers to attempts to bring positive change, while lobbying refers to attempts to influence the decisions, actions, or policies of legislators or members of regulatory agencies.

Activities

Moreover, advocacy involves raising awareness and informing the public about an idea, cause, or policy, researching new solutions, creating coalitions of like-minded people, and public campaigning. Lobbying, on the other hand, involves contacting or getting the public to contract the policymakers in order to support or oppose certain legislation.

Example

Educating an elected government official about the effects of a policy on your community is an example of advocacy but asking this governmental official to vote for or against an introduced legislation is an example of lobbying.

Conclusion

The main difference between advocacy and lobbying is that advocacy involves taking various types of actions to bring change, while lobbying involves attempts to influence the decisions, actions, or policies of legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Moreover, advocacy involves raising awareness and informing the public about an idea, cause, or policy, researching new solutions, creating coalitions of like-minded people, and public campaigning. Lobbying, on the other hand, involves contacting or getting the public to contract the policymakers in order to support or oppose certain legislation.

Reference:

1.“All Lobbying Is Advocacy, but Not All Advocacy Is Lobbying!” Amplifi, 7 Feb. 2017, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Silhouettes Of Two Men Shaking Hands” (CC0) via Pixy.org

2. “3083759” (CC0) via Pixabay

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