Edward Walker

Provides a systematic review of the research literature on the strategies firms and industry groups deploy in order to advance their interests. Discusses how these strategies fit into business and broader political contexts.

Bases research upon ethnographic observations of Central Pennsylvania residents. Questions conventional wisdom that what are often seen as "locally unwanted land uses" are, in fact, accurately described as such.

Provides evidence that the anti-fracking documentary "Gasland" both shifted public discourse surrounding fracking and also encouraged communities to protest against the practice. Shows how these protests, in turn, influenced a community's likelihood of enacting a ban or moratorium on fracking. 

Shows that there is a strong contextual association between Personal Belief Exemption rates and contexts of medical care, such that schools nearby high densities of family medical doctors tend to have higher Personal Belief Exemption rates. Reflects some combination of physician effects and self-selection.

Shows how, spurred by the post-1960s explosion of new advocacy organizations and rising business political engagement, elite consultants have learned how to deploy new technologies to commercialize mass participation. Uses evidence from interviews, surveys, and public records to paint a detailed portrait of these consultants, their clients, and the effects of their campaigns on participation and policymaking.

Examines influences on the charitable giving of corporate foundations associated with the largest firms in health-related industries in the U.S., finding that their giving is influenced by the giving of other non-corporate foundations in the health sector as well as by controversies faced by the foundation’s corporate parent and also the firm’s financial and directorship characteristics.

Discusses associations with a professional staff but no members (non-membership advocacy organizations, or NMAOs); finds that there has not been a significant proportional increase in the population of such groups since the 1960s, and that membership and non-membership groups often play complementary and supportive roles in advocacy fields.

Examines the longevity of Community-Based Organizations between 1990-2004 and finds that beyond the considerable effects of externally obtained resources, CBOs also benefit substantially by engaging in even a small amount of grassroots fundraising, as well as by making efforts to signal their legitimacy to local communities.

Examines the founding of Grassroots Lobbying Firms (GLFs) that mobilize public participation on behalf of paying organizational clients such as corporations and industry associations using direct mail, phone banking, and other communications technologies as the field expanded in dramatic fashion in the closing decades of the 20th century; finds that these consulting firms were founded primarily in response to the changing advocacy environment and in line with expanding business political activity.

Employs a unique data set of protests reported in the New York Times (1960-90) to examine how the tactics of protest groups are, in part, contingent on the institutional target a movement selects. Protest groups deploy significantly more radical tactics when targeting corporations or educational institutions than they do when protesting government policies.