The New Political Role of Business in a Globalized World: Implications for Business, Government and Civil Society (New Political Role of Business in a Globalized World)

Abstract:

The aim of this conference (to be held September 27-28, 2012 at the Copenhagen Business School) is to bring together academics and practitioners (business leaders, policy makers and civil society organizations) to discuss the state-of-the-art of theory and practice pertaining to the new political role of business in society. Globalization implies that the separation between private business and nation-state government no longer holds. Many companies have undertaken private social and environmental regulatory initiatives in order to fill regulatory voids in their home countries and especially when operating in or sourcing from less developed countries. These activities have traditionally been regarded as governmental activities and include the protection of human and labor rights, the adoption of ethics codes, anti-corruption initiatives, health care and education. Furthermore, 15 EU governments have adopted new regulation requiring firms to address social misery including mandatory non-financial reporting requirements and linking public procurement to demands for social and environmental initiatives(e.g. demands for vocational training programs). Also, civil society organizations increasingly request that companies adopt a social profile. The Occupy Wall Street movement is one recent example while Greenpeace, Amnesty International and Oxfam have a long tradition for demanding that companies take on an active political role.