Currently there is a significant crisis involving the traditional model of political representation based on the institutional role of political parties. Proof of this is demonstrated by the gradual decline in voter turnout in the main EU countries (https://blog.openpolis.it; http://www.worldbank.org).
Probably this disaffection with the vote in determining public decisions is only partly attributable to a state of disinterest or lack of involvement. Rather, the emergence of new global communication tools (e.g., social networks) and, more specifically, ICT (Information and Communications Technologies) seem to impact the political process.
It is not true, in fact, that the interest in influencing decision makers’ choices has diminished; on the contrary, this interest has strongly intensified and now involves almost all social, demographic, cultural and geographical areas. And this is because of the ease and immediacy of expressing opinions through modern mass media.
In relation to this crisis the complex phenomenon of lobbying has presented itself as an aspect which modern democracies (especially EU states) have often found themselves unprepared to confront.
Lobbying essentially means implementing a type of political communication by representatives of various categories to call group interests to the attention of decision makers (Macrì, 2012).
The existence of this phenomenon calls for an investigation of the subject from a legal point of view because there are no lobbying regulations currently in Italy. This absence of rules has inspired the widespread belief that lobbying is essentially something "underground" and "not transparent" or even, in some cases, an occasion for corruption.
The first aim of this research is to investigate lobbying in order to discover why until now there has been no general regulations created in Italy. The second aim is to understand if it is possible to assume that lobbying is a shareable and effective method for influencing and guiding public decisions along with other modern tools for participation in public life (ICT, social networks, etc.).
The research method analyzes the legal and social characteristics of lobbying in Italy. It utilizes case studies combined with a comparative analysis of the US and European lobbying systems.
The research intends to show how the crisis of the traditional model of political representation does not necessarily indicate disinterest in active participation in institutional life; it is just that new instruments of involvement that are perceived as more immediate and effective have entered the political arena. The research intends to demonstrate how lobbying guarantees participation and a “high quality” (more incisive) impact on decision makers.
Finally, the research will demonstrate that the crisis of the traditional model of political representation is not necessarily an impoverishment of democratic values because of the development of new models of influence on the public decisions. A theoretical and practical way to recover the traditional value of the vote as the main instrument for common active participation will be presented.
KEYWORDS: democracy ; social networks ; voting crisis ; lobbying ; public decisions
9c. Public participation, role of stakeholders
