Welcome to the third edition of Trends 360, the bimonthly newsletter from Trends Research & Advisory. Each issue unpacks critical global developments shaping the international landscape, from shifting alliances and great power rivalries to emerging policy disruptions. This month, we turn our attention to the age-old profession of Lobbying.
While lobbying has existed for as long as government itself, it has increasingly become associated with corruption, undue influence, and self-serving interests, often orchestrated to benefit wealthy corporations, special interest groups, and foreign governments or entities. Lobby-driven advocacy shapes numerous policy decisions, offering entities a range of rewards, from tax breaks and subsidies to bailouts and regulatory rollbacks—all designed to protect their interests and boost their bottom line.
In the case of foreign governments, lobbying can also serve to advance economic interests, such as securing favorable trade agreements or arms deals, as well as managing public relations efforts to build or repair their image in the U.S. public sphere.
