Exploring Corporate Lobbyists' Perceptions of Prospective Coalition Partners in Brussels

Andrew Barron and Peter Hultén
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Andrew Barron: University of Toulouse, Toulouse Business School, 20, boulevard Lascrosses—BP 7010, 31068 Toulouse Cedex 7, France
Peter Hultén: Umeå School of Business and Economics, ESC Rennes School of Business, Rennes, France; and Umeå universitet, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden

Environment and Planning C, 2014, vol. 32, issue 6, 963-981

Abstract: Using original data from a survey conducted in 2012, we apply theoretical insights from the literature on strategic alliances to explore Brussels-based corporate lobbyists' perceptions of prospective political partners. We find these perceptions to be driven primarily by strategic considerations. We also uncover instances where the size and nationality of respondents' firms influence their partner evaluations. Surprisingly, we find little evidence that respondents' assessments of lobbying partners are shaped by EU institutional arrangements. Whilst extant literature suggests information and relationships are important preconditions for successful EU lobbying, we expose the specific circumstances when seeking access to these—and other political resources—that can influence corporate lobbyists' perceptions of their partners. Combined, our findings respond to a concern that scholars of interest coalitions focus on why firms lobby in coalitions whilst overlooking how they select their lobbying partners.

Keywords: European Union; lobbying; coalitions of interest; strategic management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:envirc:v:32:y:2014:i:6:p:963-981

DOI: 10.1068/c12184b

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