Corporate Sociopolitical Activism: Creating a Better World?

Sociopolitical activism is growing as both a corporate practice and topic of research. One intriguing aspect of this practice is that the issues addressed have direct implications for society at large, but often do not have direct economic ramifications for firms themselves. However, given the sociopolitical – and often controversial – manner of topics addressed with corporate activism, it raises the question of whether it actually helps to create a better world as some seem to purport. Or is it merely an altruistic corporate endeavor, “woke washing,” or perhaps a means by which firms pander to morally-inclined consumers? This symposium provides an opportunity to explore these questions, as well as examples of research on the topic. The program includes three research presentations covering CEO-, employee-, and shareholder-activism; followed by a panel discussion with four expert scholars. Both the presenters and panelists will delve into the potential and promise of this type of business-society engagement, providing a critical examination of if (and how) it has made society and the world a better place. How CEO Sociopolitical Activism affects Organizational Political Ideology Presenter: Abhinav Gupta; U. of Washington, Seattle Presenter: Nicole West; U. of Washington Presenter: Majid Majzoubi; Schulich School of Business, York U. What Factors Influence an Employee’s Decision to Engage in Activism? A Review and Research Agenda Presenter: Raquel Renee Kessinger; Massachusetts Institute of Technology Presenter: Mary-Hunter McDonnell; The Wharton School, U. of Pennsylvania The Follow Through: Activist Investor Behavior and Their Likelihood of Success Presenter: Christine Shropshire; Arizona State U. Presenter: Jisun Kim; U. of Mississippi