Mosaic Network: A guidance through the realm of Public Affairs
Indian School of Public Policy (ISPP)
Democratising public policy & building state capacities
ISPP had the honour of hosting The Mosaic Network, a group of public affairs professionals, as a panel for the scholars to gain a better understanding of the discipline of public affairs.
The panel began by discussing the diverse range of organisations, countries, and corporations that have been key stakeholders in their work within the public affairs field. Following these introductions, a crucial point was made clear to the scholars: the belief that success in public affairs relies solely on "contacts" is far from reality. While networking does play an important role, it is the other skills that one develops which truly drive success. Skills like strategic communication, understanding the needs and perspectives of stakeholders, and having a deep awareness of the broader landscape are essential for effectively navigating the public affairs domain.
To help scholars understand the complexity of the public affairs world, the practitioners shared numerous experiential anecdotes from around the globe. The key takeaway, however, was that the role of a public affairs professional is to understand stakeholders on both sides and facilitate communication to bring various parties to an agreement. They highlighted that the biggest challenge in this domain is the difference in worldviews among diverse stakeholders, which often leads to a breakdown in communication or misunderstandings.
The panel provided a clear methodology for public affairs: "We aim to support businesses towards a sustainable common good through global interaction." Leveraging the network they’ve built within the domain, their goal is to promote sustainable development and global stability.
Throughout the discussion, the scholars were actively engaged, asking a range of thoughtful questions. One such question was about the role of public opinion in shaping policy and public affairs.
The panel agreed that the impact of public opinion varies significantly across countries. They cited Japan as an example, where public opinion plays a limited role in shaping policy. In contrast, in the UK, public opinion—particularly through influential media outlets like The Daily Mail —has a much larger impact.
They also discussed the unique case of Switzerland, where policy is heavily influenced by referendums. In such a system, public opinion has a direct and significant impact on the policies that are adopted.
Public opinion plays a major role in shaping the global agenda, but its influence on specific policies is highly dependent on the governance model of each region.
The panel also highlighted the importance of strategic communication, which involves adapting messaging to suit the environment, objectives, and available resources. Strategic practice is crucial for persuading stakeholders and aligning them with the client’s worldview. They shared an example from Japan, where a public affairs practitioner didn’t focus on the environmental issue of deforestation to convince a client not to sell illegal timber. Instead, they appealed to the business side, showing the client how selling the timber would result in lower profits and potential legal issues. This example demonstrated how strategic communication can effectively address an issue from a perspective that resonates with the stakeholder.
The panelists were candid about how their experiences have shaped their understanding of the public affairs domain. Even after years in the field, they admitted there is still much to learn.
Encouraging the budding policy students, the network urged them to embark on their own journeys and tackle the complex issues that even seasoned professionals have yet to solve.
We are grateful to the Mosaic Network for providing such an insightful experience, with many scholars leaving the session full of praise and appreciation for the guests.
To learn more about the Mosaic Network, visit their website at https://www.mosaic-network.org/
Written by: Himansh Raj Bhatia, Research Associate- Case Study Center ISPP
Independent Education Management Professional
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4 个月“Truly insightful session! ?? It’s refreshing to see the Mosaic Network shed light on the often misunderstood field of public affairs. I appreciate the emphasis on strategic communication and understanding diverse perspectives over mere networking. ?? The examples from Japan, the UK, and Switzerland perfectly illustrate how cultural and governance differences shape public policy approaches globally. ?? This session must have been invaluable for ISPP scholars, giving them real-world insights and inspiring them to navigate complex stakeholder dynamics. ?? Kudos to ISPP and the Mosaic Network for empowering the next generation of public policy leaders! ??”