What is campaigning and lobbying?

The terms campaigning and lobbying are often used interchangeably, but it is worth considering the difference between the terms and thinking about whether one, or other, or both actions are likely to suit your purposes.

Lobbying is the practice of individuals and organisations trying to influence the opinion of political decision makers. It takes its name from the lobbies or hallways of Parliament where MPs and peers gather before and after debates in the Commons and Lords chambers. Traditionally, people wishing to influence the opinions of MPs or peers have frequented the lobbies seeking to persuade members of the validity of a particular viewpoint. However, nowadays the term lobbying often refers more specifically to the work of private companies known as lobbyists, employed by organisations to represent their views to political decision makers.

Campaigning, on the other hand, is the process of mobilising others to take action to challenge the powerful to make decisions to help (rather than harm) the powerless. It means making and using organised, planned actions on specific issues with the aim of changing the policies of behaviours of groups and/or institutions.

So, lobbying techniques might be used as part of the bigger process of campaigning.