Article title next to a 3D image of grass on the ground
Representation is one of the fundamental pillars of any democracy. It connects different actors — whether individuals or institutions — around common goals. In addition to the electoral system, in which representation manifests itself as the basis of the democratic regime, it also materializes in practices such as lobbying, advocacy and grassroots.
In the context of public policies in Brazil, these three elements play distinct but complementary roles. In this article, we will explain how grassroots, in particular, stands out as a tool for popular mobilization that directly influences the process of formulating public policies.
We will also explore its differences in relation to lobbying belgium mobile database and advocacy , its practical functioning, successful examples in Brazil and the challenges it faces, such as astroturfing. In addition, we will discuss the importance of transparency and government monitoring tools to strengthen the impact of these movements in the political arena.
Differences between lobbying, advocacy and grassroots
Lobbying is a legitimate and necessary practice to directly influence public officials and politicians during the decision-making process. It is a more structured activity, usually carried out by professionals who engage in dialogue with legislators and regulators on behalf of their clients or causes.
Advocacy's main objective is to defend a cause of public interest, seeking changes that benefit society as a whole, through awareness and engagement campaigns.
Grassroots, in turn, differs from these practices in the way it is conceived and executed. Translated as "root of the grass", the concept refers to movements that start from the base of society , in a horizontal organizational format.
The main objective of grassroots is popular mobilization , bringing together local, regional or national groups to exert pressure on public authorities, influencing public policies in a collaborative way.