Engaging with extreme politicians: The dilemma for companies & associations
In last month’s European Parliament elections far-right groups gained unprecedented representation. For businesses and Associations engaging in the EU, this development poses a dilemma: how to engage with these new stakeholders. At a Best in Brussels event in June @MarkDober showed survey results that suggested around 50% of respondents would not engage the far right. So, should companies engage with these parties (and if so, how), or avoid them due to their controversial stances? Perhaps they should look to their Associations to do this for them? This post shares some thought on why engaging these new stakeholders is both necessary and important.
The Engagement Dilemma
On one hand, engaging with these stakeholders can be seen as an endorsement of their often-controversial views, potentially leading to reputational risks. On the other hand, ignoring them could mean missing out on crucial opportunities to influence policy. So, what do you need to consider;
Why Engagement is Necessary
- Influence on Policy-Making: Far-right parties now have a tangible impact on legislative processes. Ignoring these stakeholders could lead to unfavorable policies and means you have no influence.
- Stakeholder Relationships: Effective stakeholder management requires working with all relevant parties, including those with differing views. Building relationships with far-right parties can provide insights into their priorities and concerns, enabling organizations to better navigate the political landscape and maintain a competitive edge.
- Champion vs. Support: You can work with stakeholders to gather support and help influence positions without making them / or having them as your champions (which may be a step too far).
How to Engage: Some Considerations
- Reputation Management: Engaging with far-right stakeholders carries reputational risks for the organization doing it – on a few levels. There is corporate reputational risk and also local political risk that by associating with the far right you alienate support from other political groups.
- Clear Ethical Guidelines: Establish clear ethical guidelines for engagement, ensuring that interactions with far-right parties do not compromise the organization’s values. Transparency and adherence to core principles are crucial.
- Focus on Common Interests: Identify areas of common interest, such as economic growth, job creation, and technological innovation. Building dialogues around these topics can lead to constructive engagement without endorsing controversial positions.
- Public Communication: Maintain transparent communication with the public about the nature and purpose of engagements with far-right stakeholders. This helps in managing public perception and mitigating potential backlash.
While engaging with these new stakeholders is fraught with complexities, it is necessary and important. The key is to find the far-right factions that are looking to constructively engage – the ones who are interested in solutions (and not just protest). The job of Public Affairs professionals is to find the right ways to engage stakeholders for their organization and this is a real challenge. In an increasingly polarized environment, proactive and constructive engagement is not just an option—it is a necessity.
