Lobbying by the French livestock industry: French people's right to eat “real meat” as a populist argument

See here : https://euprera.org/2026/04/13/eupreratalks-us-versus-them-populism-in-contemporary-lobbying/ #EUPRERAtalks - Lobbying relies heavily on the linguistic framing of policy issues. Recently, large organisations, such as Big Tech like Airbnb or the French food industry, have adopted populist strategies, positioning themselves as champions of "the people" against regulatory "elites." This communication style frames social issues as moral struggles, often mobilising grassroots grievances to influence policy. Given the rise of populist politics across Europe, understanding how such populist appeals operate within lobbying strategies – and their consequences – represents a new challenge for strategic communication scholars. This panel examines the ethical and democratic implications of populist lobbying, guided by these questions: How do we understand and conceptualise populist lobbying, and in what ways might it contravene the hopes or expectations of normative strategic communication theories? Do we accept the trend exists, and if so, how should it be viewed if adopting varying theoretical starting points? To what extent are organisations deploying populist rhetoric in their lobbying? What is its characteristics when deployed in a lobbying context? What are the defining elements of populist lobbying for future research? The webinar highlights a growing concern that the use of populist strategies by "Big Tech" or "Big Food" may undermine democratic norms and erode public trust. The webinar will blend short paper presentations plus questions and open discussion. The three short papers are: - Scott Davidson and Chiara Valentini on the task of developing a conceptual framework for understanding populism within public affairs practice, by distinguishing between its ideological, strategic, and rhetorical dimensions. - Lucile Desmoulins presents an investigation on populist tendencies within French livestock trade organisations, where lobbying taps into cultural divides over food, the countryside, and national identity. - Alexandra Schwinges and Irina Lock analyse lobbying in Amsterdam to reveal how Airbnb positions itself as an ally to "ordinary homeowners" against restrictive city regulations, highlighting how Big Tech battles local governments. The webinar is organised by the Public Affairs and Lobbying network within EUPRERA.