ABSTRACT
The power of allies rests on the fact that it is founded on a network of players who are close to the ground. Allies know how to couch the project in terms that best suit the players they represent. These allies will also know how to convince the project management to make modifications to render the project more presentable. Statements vary in meaning according to who issues them - this is called the source effect. It is clear that if the leader of a local pressure group says to the residents: ‘This project protects our interests’, this will be better accepted than if a government minister promises the same thing. In sensitive projects voices of authority are often not respected, because they defend general interests which are often at odds with the particular specific interests of the people listening. It is better to let allies express themselves rather than risk having the message damaged before it is even uttered.
