The “woke agenda” is commonly used to describe companies’ awareness of, and proactive engagement with, social and environmental issues, such as gender equality, diversity and inclusion, and climate sustainability. Increasingly, firms adopt corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards that go beyond legal requirements. In contrast, corporate lobbying has traditionally been associated with efforts to secure regulatory and policy outcomes that favour firms’ private interests.
Although corporate lobbying and social responsibility are often treated as distinct – or even opposing – domains, CSR and ESG initiatives can also function as strategic instruments to shape public debates, influence policymakers, and build coalitions. This panel aims to explore the complex and sometimes contradictory relationships between corporate lobbying and social responsibility. We particularly welcome studies that examine lobbying strategies and their links to the “woke” agenda, environmental and social standards, and the ways in which corporate commitments to values and norms intersect with efforts to secure influence in the policy process 389.
The panel seeks to address topics such as (but not limited to):
- How CSR and ESG commitments are integrated into corporate lobbying strategies;
- The use of “woke” branding and values in shaping firms’ access to policymakers and regulatory arenas;
- Tensions between public commitments to social and environmental standards and behind-the-scenes lobbying practices;
- Sectoral and regional variation in the alignment (or misalignment) between CSR agendas and policy influence;
- The role of NGOs, activist investors, and multi-stakeholder initiatives in mediating corporate lobbying and social responsibility;
- Normative and democratic implications of corporations acting as promoters of social and environmental causes while pursuing regulatory advantages.
