The politics of social responsibility after neoliberalism: a public policy perspective

Adrian Kay

Social Responsibility Journal, 2026, vol. 22, issue 5, 965-979

Abstract: PurposeThis paper aims to evaluate how the field of public policy studies can contribute to investigating the politics of social responsibility. The concept of post-neoliberalism is interpreted as a policy paradigm collapse with consequences for the politics of social responsibility of both businesses and governments. Specifically, the paper links the notion of output legitimacy to new forms of social responsibility after neoliberalism.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopts a theoretical, critical approach and draws on a public policy perspective in reading the emerging post-neoliberalism literature, alongside defences of neoliberal corporate social responsibility, to offer conjectures on the contemporary politics of social responsibility.FindingsThe concept of post-neoliberalism opens a new era in the politics of social responsibility. This is marked by contestations and struggles over which organisations are responsible for what, when and to whom.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is limited by the theoretical, critical approach adopted. The theoretical analysis of the concepts in the article allows several conjectures about the future direction of the politics of social responsibility. These are available for investigation in future empirical research studies.Originality/valueThis article offers a critical discussion of how the concept of post-neoliberalism is relevant to debates about the politics of social responsibility. The article provides conceptual novelty to the literature to support theory building at the intersection of public policy and social responsibility.

Keywords: Governance; Corporate social responsibility; Public policy; Business legitimacy; Output legitimacy; Post-neoliberalism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eme:srjpps:srj-08-2025-0780

DOI: 10.1108/SRJ-08-2025-0780

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