Corporate Activism: Exploring an Emerging Field of Research and Practice

Abstract

In the last few years, we have seen an emergence (or perhaps resurgence) of overt political activism on the part of companies and their leaders. Such activism clearly presents a range of risks as well as potential rewards for companies, depending on whether (and which) stakeholders respond positively or negatively to the stand taken, and the nature of the activism involved. Corporate activism also raises important, broader questions about the appropriate limits of powerful economic actors’ participation in political debates and the nature of democratic decision making. This symposium will feature current research efforts in this emerging area and map out a path for future work. The symposium will include presentations of new research by leading scholars engaged in exploring various facets of corporate activism, and offer the audience the opportunity for a rich discussion on the potential and drawbacks of research and practice in this new area. The Rise of Corporate Activism Presenter: Cory Maks-Solomon; George Washington U. When CEO Sociopolitical Activism Attracts New Talents Presenter: Christian Voegtlin; Audencia Business School Presenter: Andrew Crane; U. of Bath Presenter: Laura Noval; Imperial College Business School Can CEO Activists Shape Organizational Ideology? Presenter: Mary-Hunter McDonnell; The Wharton School, U. of Pennsylvania Presenter: Michael Toffel; Harvard U. Corporate Activism: Establishing a Typology and Finding Common Ground Presenter: Anna Eileen McKean; Northwestern U. Presenter: Maurice Jerel Murphy; U. of Southern California