The turbulent future of public affairs

What does the future look like? public affairs professional look? In our book we look at the way in which the public affairs profession is developing, what public affairs looks like from a social perspective and at the place and function of the professionals in the organization.

Predicting is dangerous, we have searched for a long time for a good form of it. Still, we make an attempt. We describe two different contexts that can determine this development of the profession: the context of gradual development and that of turbulent development. Characteristics of the turbulent context are: far-reaching polarization and fragmentation of influence, powerful challengers, fiercer aversion to the established order, rapidly changing lobby coalitions, short-lived solutions.

The book is not finished

We realize that when writing the book we cannot, of course, oversee all aspects and future developments. We therefore want to start a conversation with young professionals about the future when presenting our book. What developments do they see? Which context do they think will prevail? Which tasks for the professional are appropriate?

For this we have invited Jong BVPA, the youth club within the Professional Association for Public Affairs. At the book presentation on August 29, we will put these questions to them under the leadership of Erik van Venice. We can no longer incorporate the results of this conversation into our current book. Possibly in the revised edition. Because a book about public affairs is never finished. Should we write that new version?