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Bert Fraussen @bertfraussen.bsky.social · 8d

“What makes them uniquely powerful is they have a grassroots network of members & supporters (...) Everyone has restaurants in their districts.And all these elected officials are on the road a ton, so they’re in these restaurants, & they use them to host fund-raisers.” #LobbyQuotes
shorturl.at/0uU19

“No Tax on Tips” Is an Industry Plant

Trump’s “populist” policy is backed by the National Restaurant Association—probably because it won’t stop establishments from paying servers below the minimum wage.

shorturl.at

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Bert Fraussen @bertfraussen.bsky.social · 9d

Wat is… lobbyen?Op donderdagavond 23 oktober deel ik inzichten over de cruciale rol van belangenvertegenwoordiging in beleidsvorming, van harte welkom om in Kortrijk of online aan te sluiten! Ik kijk alvast uit naar een boeiende gedachtewisseling! Meer info:
puc.kuleuven.be/nl/opleiding...

Reposted by Bert Fraussen

Anne Rasmussen @annerasmussen.bsky.social · 10d

🚨 New paper in @thejop.bsky.social

Why do politicians often misperceive what citizens' policy positions are?

@simonotjes.bsky.social and I study ~10,000 estimates of public opinion by politicians in Denmark & the Netherlands to uncover the sources of these (mis)perceptions

Thread 🧵1/10

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Bert Fraussen @bertfraussen.bsky.social · 14d

"En ik zou ook wensen dat we een andere cultuur rondom transparantie krijgen. Dat we bewegen van de huidige cultuur van schande en shaming naar een cultuur van belangstelling, begrip, genade en leren."

Joost Sneller - Kamerlid D66 @sneller.bsky.social · 14d

“We zijn er nog lang niet.”

Vier jaar nadat ik - samen met Bart Snels - de Wet open overheid succesvol verdedigde, is dat mijn oordeel over de stand van zaken.

Interview met iBestuur over (het belang van) openbaarheid van de overheid: ibestuur.nl/artikel/joos...

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Bert Fraussen @bertfraussen.bsky.social · 24d

"But if you have seven assignments due in five days, and AI could speed up the work by tenfold for the cost of a large pizza, what are you meant to do?"
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...

College Students Have Already Changed Forever

Members of the class of 2026 have had access to AI since they were freshmen. Almost all of them are using it to do their work.

www.theatlantic.com

Reposted by Bert Fraussen

Simon Otjes @simonotjes.bsky.social · 24d

Superhappy to see this paper out in Politics & Governance. Together with Gijs Jan Brandsma (Radboud University) I show that size of PPG staffs increases parliamentary activity but decreases social media activity www.cogitatiopress.com/politicsandg...

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Bert Fraussen @bertfraussen.bsky.social · 28d

"Giving a ‘new’ think-tank space in the headlines without telling listeners and readers who created it and why is a complete dereliction of duty."#ThinkTanks

Mic Wright @brokenbottleboy.bsky.social · 29d

NEW | a look at how a ‘new’ think-tank got coverage…

THE BBC, THE NHS, AND A ‘NEW’ THINK-TANK

A case study in how vested interests rebrand themselves as "think-tanks".

brokenbottleboy.substack.com/p/the-bbc-th...

The BBC, the NHS and a 'new' think-tank

A case study in how vested interests rebrand themselves as "think-tanks".

brokenbottleboy.substack.com

Reposted by Bert Fraussen

Maartje Janse @maartjejanse.bsky.social · Sep 9

‘De ruimte voor maatschappelijke organisaties om de overheid te bekritiseren krimpt snel, waarschuwt het College voor de Rechten van de Mens in een maandag verschenen rapport.’

Minder ruimte voor kritiek op overheid in Nederland

Het maatschappelijk middenveld voelt zich steeds meer onder druk gezet, blijkt uit een nieuw rapport van het College voor de Rechten van de Mens.

www.trouw.nl

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Bert Fraussen @bertfraussen.bsky.social · Sep 4

Laatste kans! Op 13 en 14 oktober nieuwe inzichten verwerven over strategische belangenbehartiging & van gedachten wisselen met Caelesta Braun, Kustaw Bessems, Illya Soffer en Alexander Rinnooy Kan? Je kan je nog enkele dagen aanmelden voor onze opleiding!
www.universiteitleiden.nl/cpl/politiek...

Tweedaagse cursus Belangenbehartiging

Je krijgt de meest recente inzichten uit wetenschappelijk onderzoek en verdiept je in de laatste ontwikkelingen op het terrein van belangenbehartiging met sprekers zoals emeritus hoogleraar Alexander ...

www.universiteitleiden.nl

Bert Fraussen @bertfraussen.bsky.social · Jul 8

Niemand minder dan @tomjanmeeus.bsky.social zal op 29 januari 2026 de 6de Nacht van de Lobbyist openen! Als scherpe en tegelijkertijd genuanceerde observator van de patronen en processen achter de politieke profilering en besluitvorming, is hij een gedroomde opener van ons event.
shorturl.at/Gk8Yk

Keynote spreker van 2026: Tom-Jan Meeus - Nacht van de Lobbyist

Met gepaste trots delen wij de keynote spreker van de Nacht van de Lobbyist 2026. Vooraanstaande politiek journalist Tom-Jan Meeus zal op 29 januari 2026 de Nacht van de Lobbyist openen! Tom-Jan Meeus...

shorturl.at

Bert Fraussen @bertfraussen.bsky.social · Jun 25

𝑽𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒂𝒈𝒗𝒍𝒂𝒌 𝒏𝒂𝒂𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒂𝒕𝒔𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒋𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒕. Dat is rode draad doorheen onze opleiding Strategisch Belangen Behartigen op 13-14 oktober,die focust op verbindende rol belangenbehartiging & lobby, met o.m. Caelesta Braun, Alexander Rinnooy Kan & Illya Soffer als gastsprekers. shorturl.at/9x0ab

Tweedaagse cursus Belangenbehartiging

Je krijgt de meest recente inzichten uit wetenschappelijk onderzoek en verdiept je in de laatste ontwikkelingen op het terrein van belangenbehartiging met sprekers zoals emeritus hoogleraar Alexander ...

shorturl.at

Reposted by Bert Fraussen

Wiebke Marie Junk @wmjunk.bsky.social · Jun 18

Thrilled that our article is published open access @annualreviews.bsky.social!

We review recent strides in the study of lobbying & flesh out 1) transaction, 2) persuasion and 3) mobilisation mechanisms with @garlicksauce.bsky.social & @heathbrown.bsky.social

www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...

How Lobbying Matters | Annual Reviews

For decades, political scientists have struggled to provide empirical evidence that lobbying influences policymaking. A considerable gap arose between widespread public suspicions of lobbying and the ...

www.annualreviews.org

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Bert Fraussen @bertfraussen.bsky.social · Jun 17

“Als je vandaag hebt nagedacht over hoe je kinderen op tijd ergens heen bracht zodat jij hier kon zijn – dan heb je aan strategie gedaan.”
www.lowlanderproject.nl/post/am-i-ma...

“Am I making sense right now?” Organizing-expert Marshall Ganz kwam naar Utrecht voor een masterclass

Op zondag 25 mei was het zover: de bekende Amerikaanse organizer Marshall Ganz kwam naar Utrecht! Voor een masterclass organizing die, ondanks de grote opkomst, heel intiem voelde. In dit verslag lees...

www.lowlanderproject.nl

Bert Fraussen @bertfraussen.bsky.social · May 12

"it exemplifies the unique power of a form of lobbying that we too often neglect or simply expect to lose out when faced with an opposition with deep pockets and a clearly superior arsenal of lobbying tactics: social and economic justice lobbying.""

Wiebke Marie Junk @wmjunk.bsky.social · May 12

I've had the privilege of reviewing Maraam Dwidar's excellent new book
@uchicagopress.bsky.social

It provides answers to several long-standing questions on lobbying. And, most importantly, it can provide HOPE in times where many might need it the most ...

link.springer.com/article/10.1...

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Reposted by Bert Fraussen

Alberto Alemanno @alemanno.bsky.social · May 9

NEW BOOK 📕 critically analyzing the ethical rules applicable to EU institutions. Its basic premise is that what matters today is not only what public institutions do and who does it but also how it gets done.

Read the introductory chapter papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

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Reposted by Bert Fraussen

Ellis Aizenberg @eaizenberg.bsky.social · May 9

🎉 Proud of @sharonvangeldere.bsky.social for presenting the pre-analysis plan of her first paper @uva.nl yesterday! She shared her work at an inspiring workshop on bridging communication & interest group research. Big thanks to @marcelhanegraaff.bsky.social for the invite!

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Bert Fraussen @bertfraussen.bsky.social · Apr 29

Stakeholder engagement voorbij de usual suspects: waarom en hoe? Op maandag 19 mei ga ik tijdens Masterclass Stakeholder Engagement @io-pgi-kuleuven.bsky.social dieper in op dit cruciaal vraagstuk; aanmelden is nog enkele dagen mogelijk via onderstaande link:
soc.kuleuven.be/io/opleiding...

Reposted by Bert Fraussen

celestebiever.bsky.social @celestebiever.bsky.social · Apr 25

Do US politicians listen to science? Democrat-led congressional committees and leftwing think tanks cite research papers more than their rightwing counterparts, finds vast analysis by @dashunwang.bsky.social @alexanderfurnas.com www.nature.com/articles/d41... With comments from @ejfagan.com

Line graphic showing how left-leaning and right-leaning think tanks cite science papers over time.

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Bert Fraussen @bertfraussen.bsky.social · Apr 24

An often overlooked question: what specific role should governments take in collaborations: lead, link or leverage? In a new article in Policy Studies Journal with Erin Sullivan and Caelesta Braun @fggaleiden.bsky.social,we develop a framework to clarify and assess these roles.
shorturl.at/FmX1j

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Reposted by Bert Fraussen

European Consortium for Political Research @ecpr.bsky.social · Apr 9

✍️ Apply by 16 April
☀️ Summer School of @ecprinterestgroups.bsky.social
📣 Interest groups and advocacy in a changing political context
🔓 Open to PhD and Master's students + practitioners
📅 6 –11 July
📍 @fasosmaastricht.bsky.social
#Polisky #AcademicSky

Summer School of the Standing Group on Interest Groups, Maastricht University, Netherlands, 6 – 11 July 2025

Interest groups and advocacy in a changing political context

ecpr.eu

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Bert Fraussen @bertfraussen.bsky.social · Apr 7

"As the international agenda shifted from participation objectives to anti-corruption and integrity goals,we observed a change in regulatory approaches (...)to provisions for mandatory registration,stricter disclosure requirements & conflict of interest prevention"
link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Incremental lobbying reform: the patchy case of Italy - Interest Groups & Advocacy

The regulation of lobbying serves the dual ambition of ensuring a level playing field for participation in policymaking while reducing risks of corruption and undue influence. International organisati...

link.springer.com

Bert Fraussen @bertfraussen.bsky.social · Apr 7

"We know from institutional economics that rules and predictability are generally better for trade and growth. But power is easier to wield when discretion lies with a single individual."

Alexandre Afonso @alexandreafonso.bsky.social · Apr 7

i first called this "a public choice theory of recent developments in international trade" but I am weak so went for the clickbait

#19 Trump's Tariffs Make a Bit More Sense if You Think Like a Mafia Boss

A Public Choice interpretation. Well, sort of.

open.substack.com

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Reposted by Bert Fraussen

Lola Avril @lolaavril.bsky.social · Apr 4

With @emiliakorkeaaho.bsky.social , we are thrilled to see our work published in the book "Political Sociology Perspectives on Lobbying". Our chapter looks at a regulatory gap in Brussels where lawyers exploit legal privilege to maintain opacity in lobbying

link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...

The Political Sociology of the Lawyer-Lobbyist. Towards a Practice-Centred Approach to Political Influence

This chapter explores the role of lawyer-lobbyists within the European Union (EU), emphasising their influence on policy-making through a practice-centred approach. It contributes to the political soc...

link.springer.com

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Bert Fraussen @bertfraussen.bsky.social · Apr 1

Almost too good to be true: check out this fantastic #PhD and #Postdoc opportunity to enjoy the pleasure of working together with the outstanding @wmjunk.bsky.social on the #LOBBYMETRY project and reveal when, why and how mobilisation and information asymmetries shape public policy!

Wiebke Marie Junk @wmjunk.bsky.social · Mar 31

🥁The LOBBYMETRY project is hiring:
1 PostDoc & 1 fully-funded PhD 🥳
Come to beautiful Copenhagen to research lobbying, informational quality and public policy formulation!

PostDoc: jobportal.ku.dk/videnskabeli...

Please spread the word & and do not hesitate to reach out with questions!

Postdoctoral Researcher Position (3 years) in Political Science as part of the ERC-funded Lobbying (A)symmetry Project

jobportal.ku.dk

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Reposted by Bert Fraussen

Wendy Y. Li @wendyyli.bsky.social · Mar 18

This is good and everyone should be doing this. Your FOIA isn't yours, it's the public's.

p.s. All the FOIA docs I use are on my website!

WIRED @wired.com · Mar 18

They're called public records for a reason. Starting today, WIRED will *stop paywalling* articles that are primarily based on public records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, becoming the first publication to partner with @freedom.press to offer this for our new coverage.

Wired is dropping paywalls for FOIA-based reporting. Others should follow

As the administration does its best to hide public records from the public, Wired magazine is stepping up to help stem the secrecy

freedom.press

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