Summary
Business as political actor –evolving practice, emerging norms and shifting expectations for a pivotal
determinant of public trust in both business and democracy (BIZPOL)
BIZPOL deploys a mix of innovative, multi-disciplinary approaches to substantially advance scholarly thinking, as well as the
practical policy debate on corporate political activity (CPA). CPA comprises all non-market activities by companies when
they engage with governments and policy-making more broadly to advance their interests. As such, CPA is forcefully
becoming central to some of the most vexing societal challenges of our times and evolving into an important area of
research in a variety of fields. Business is increasingly recognised as a crucial political actor to address issue such as
climate change or corruption. Yet, at the same time, there is a growing public perception in many countries that corporate
interests have disproportionate influence over policy-making. This suspicion, real or not, has dramatic consequences for
public trust in both democracy and markets.
With BIZPOL I aim to make significant contributions to the growing body of scholarship in this area through four interrelated
work streams:
• what should CPA look like? An exploration of plausible normative expectations for responsible CPA drawing on normative
theories of democracy;
• what does CPA look like? A comparative diagnostic exercise to assess the transparency and patterns of current CPA
practices in major European companies with new metrics and new data;
• how is CPA “produced”? A qualitative, in-depth exploration of where and how expectations and decisions about
responsible exercise of CPA are constructed and negotiated, inside companies, as well as in the broader stakeholder
community; and,
• where is CPA heading? A survey and desk-research supported interrogation of the future evolution of CPA and the potential of research and education to
critically and constructively accompany this trajectory.
determinant of public trust in both business and democracy (BIZPOL)
BIZPOL deploys a mix of innovative, multi-disciplinary approaches to substantially advance scholarly thinking, as well as the
practical policy debate on corporate political activity (CPA). CPA comprises all non-market activities by companies when
they engage with governments and policy-making more broadly to advance their interests. As such, CPA is forcefully
becoming central to some of the most vexing societal challenges of our times and evolving into an important area of
research in a variety of fields. Business is increasingly recognised as a crucial political actor to address issue such as
climate change or corruption. Yet, at the same time, there is a growing public perception in many countries that corporate
interests have disproportionate influence over policy-making. This suspicion, real or not, has dramatic consequences for
public trust in both democracy and markets.
With BIZPOL I aim to make significant contributions to the growing body of scholarship in this area through four interrelated
work streams:
• what should CPA look like? An exploration of plausible normative expectations for responsible CPA drawing on normative
theories of democracy;
• what does CPA look like? A comparative diagnostic exercise to assess the transparency and patterns of current CPA
practices in major European companies with new metrics and new data;
• how is CPA “produced”? A qualitative, in-depth exploration of where and how expectations and decisions about
responsible exercise of CPA are constructed and negotiated, inside companies, as well as in the broader stakeholder
community; and,
• where is CPA heading? A survey and desk-research supported interrogation of the future evolution of CPA and the potential of research and education to
critically and constructively accompany this trajectory.
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More information & hyperlinks
| Web resources: | https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/840978 |
| Start date: | 01-05-2019 |
| End date: | 31-07-2023 |
| Total budget - Public funding: | 328 968,00 Euro - 328 968,00 Euro |
Cordis data
Original description
Business as political actor –evolving practice, emerging norms and shifting expectations for a pivotaldeterminant of public trust in both business and democracy (BIZPOL)
BIZPOL deploys a mix of innovative, multi-disciplinary approaches to substantially advance scholarly thinking, as well as the
practical policy debate on corporate political activity (CPA). CPA comprises all non-market activities by companies when
they engage with governments and policy-making more broadly to advance their interests. As such, CPA is forcefully
becoming central to some of the most vexing societal challenges of our times and evolving into an important area of
research in a variety of fields. Business is increasingly recognised as a crucial political actor to address issue such as
climate change or corruption. Yet, at the same time, there is a growing public perception in many countries that corporate
interests have disproportionate influence over policy-making. This suspicion, real or not, has dramatic consequences for
public trust in both democracy and markets.
With BIZPOL I aim to make significant contributions to the growing body of scholarship in this area through four interrelated
work streams:
• what should CPA look like? An exploration of plausible normative expectations for responsible CPA drawing on normative
theories of democracy;
• what does CPA look like? A comparative diagnostic exercise to assess the transparency and patterns of current CPA
practices in major European companies with new metrics and new data;
• how is CPA “produced”? A qualitative, in-depth exploration of where and how expectations and decisions about
responsible exercise of CPA are constructed and negotiated, inside companies, as well as in the broader stakeholder
community; and,
• where is CPA heading? A survey and desk-research supported interrogation of the future evolution of CPA and the potential of research and education to
critically and constructively accompany this trajectory.
Status
CLOSEDCall topic
MSCA-IF-2018Update Date
28-04-2024
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