Books
Here is a selection of books that may be of interest to anyone working in private sector advocacy
Lobbying and policy change: who wins, who loses and why, Frank Baumtgartner et al
This book, published in 2009, summarises the results of a seven year research project involving five authors
and 50 student collaborators. They looked in detail, over a four year period, at the key issues pursued by all the lobbyists in
Washington. The result is considerable insighht into the entire lobbying process - at least in the US and in so far as it applies to
lobbying Congress. There are some gaps therefore but it is essential reading for anyone interested in advocacy and lobbying.
Basic Interests: the importance of groups in politics and political science, Frank Baumgartner & Beth Leech
This book was written in 1998, so is a little out of date, but is an excellent review of the literature relating to
the way that interest groups (primarily business but not exclusively) seek to influence public policy in the US. For anyone doing a literature
review, it provides an exemplar. For anyone interested in public private dialogue and private sector advocacy, it is an interesting read,
though the fact that it only looks at public policy influencing in the US makes it hard to draw more general conclusions
Brussels versus the Beltway, Christine Mahoney
A slightly quirky title, implying some competition between Brussels and Washington, for a book that gives an excellent
overview of the differences in lobbying between The US an dthe EU. Some of what Mahoney has to say is fairly obvious, but if you are in any way
involved in private sector advocacy then this book is worth reading
Wars, guns & votes: democracy in dangerous places, Paul Collier
An excellent book which explores how democracy takes roots in sub Saharan Africa, why heads of state resprt to war and ideas to discourage them
Our turn to eat, Michaela Wrong
A brilliant book about John Githongo and his efforts to combat corruption in Kenya - which ultimately provided an impossible task, with John running to London
The bottom billion, Paul Collier
Why so many people in the world are starving and suggestions for how to make a difference
The Secret Language of Leadership, Stephen Denning
This book explains how to use narrative to make a compelling case for change
