The Link Between Social Movements and Corporate Social Initiatives: Toward a Multi-level Theory

Panayiotis Georgallis ()
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Panayiotis Georgallis: University of Michigan

Journal of Business Ethics, 2017, vol. 142, issue 4, No 7, 735-751

Abstract: Abstract This article offers a first step toward a multi-level theory linking social movements to corporate social initiatives. In particular, building on the premise that social movements reflect ideologies that direct behavior inside and outside organizations, this essay identifies mechanisms by which social movements induce firms to engage with social issues. First, social movements are able to influence the expectations that key stakeholders have about firms’ social responsibility, making corporate social initiatives more attractive. Second, through conflict or collaboration, they shape firms’ reputation and legitimacy. And third, social movements’ ideologies manifest inside the corporations by triggering organizational members’ values and affecting managerial cognition. The essay contributes to the literatures on social movements and CSR, extends the understanding of how ideologies are manifested in movement-business interactions, and generates rich opportunities for future research.

Keywords: Social movements; Activism; Corporate social responsibility; Ideology; Multi-level theory; Stakeholder theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

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DOI: 10.1007/s10551-016-3111-0

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