PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY CONTEXT

The nature and character of Public Policy Advocacy, to a large extent is shaped up by the political culture, social systems and the constitutional framework of the country in which it is being practiced. The definition and theoretical understanding of Public Policy Advocacy can only be derived from the varied practices of influencing decision making and public policies in different socio-cultural and political contexts. It is the practice which makes the theory of advocacy and not vice versa. But the way we perceive and practice Public Policy Advocacy is determined by the ideological inclinations, historical settings and the value system of the proponents. One of the difficulties in getting clarity about the term public policy advocacy, is the fact that it is being widely and broadly used to signify a sweep of practices ranging from public relations, market research and report writing to lobbying. Though the process of public policy advocacy encompasses one or more of such components, mistaking the use of one component to public policy advocacy is to miss the woods for the trees.

There cannot be any public policy advocacy in vacuum. There has to be an issue or a cause to advocate for. We use the term Public Policy Advocacy to signify a set of planned, proactive and organised actions to address issues. The primary focus of public policy advocacy is the arena of influencing policy formulation, change and implementation. But public policies are a function of the dominant political equation at a given space and time. Hence to effectively influence public policies, one has to influence the existing power relations. Influencing power relations is not a one way traffic or a linear process. It is a complex process, wherein various interest groups confront and negotiate to advance their particular interest.

To effectively influence power structures or corporate interests, one needs sources of power. In the context of Public Policy Advocacy, there are five major sources of power:

1. The power of people or citizens
2. The power of information and knowledge
3. The power of constitutional guarantees
4. The power of direct grassroots experience and
5. The power of moral convictions.

 To be effective in Public Policy Advocacy, it is not only important to have information. It is more important to transform such information into knowledge by interpreting the former with a set of values.