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Corporate sociopolitical activism (CSA) refers to a firm's public demonstration of support or opposition to a partisan sociopolitical issue. [1] [2] [3] [4] CSA has become increasingly prominent in the 2010s and 2020s, as firms have taken stances on issues such as climate change, racial justice, reproductive rights, gun control, immigration, LGBTQ+ rights, and gender equality. [5]
Several terms, such as woke capitalism, woke capital, and stakeholder capitalism, [6] are used by some commentators to refer to a form of marketing, advertising, and corporate structures that pertains to sociopolitical standpoints tied to social justice and activist causes. [7] The term was coined by columnist Ross Douthat in "The Rise of Woke Capital", an article written for and published in The New York Times in 2018. [8] [9]
CSA is comparable but distinct from two related firm activities: corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate political activity (CPA). Firms may engage in CSA to appeal to purpose-driven ideals, as well as contribute to more strategic motives, in line with consumers' existing preferences for moral purchasing options. A recent study found that 64% of global consumers choose to buy or boycott a given brand on the basis of its political leanings, a result suggesting the increasing importance of ethical consumerism practices. [10]
A 2020 survey of CMOs revealed that a growing proportion of marketing leaders find it acceptable to make changes to products and services in response to political issues (47%), have executives speak out on political issues (33%), and use marketing communications to speak out on political issues (28%). [4] Furthermore, brands engaged in an unprecedented level of activist behavior in response to consumers protesting racial injustice in 2020. [11]
Firms have historically strayed from vocalizing stances on controversial sociopolitical matters, with the understanding that doing so could sever certain stakeholder relationships; [2] however, modern cultural shifts have precipitated a "hyper-partisan" climate, [12] leading to demand for firms to exercise purpose-driven efforts in the marketplace. [13] As stated by Richard Edelman, chief executive officer (CEO) of Edelman, "Brands are now being pushed to go beyond their classic business interests to become advocates. It is a new relationship between a company and consumer, where a purchase is premised on the brand’s willingness to live its values, act with purpose, and, if necessary, make the leap into activism." [10]
CSA is a unique form of cause-related firm behavior defined broadly by two distinct characteristics: publicity and partisanship. Specifically, CSA involves a firm's public support of or opposition to a partisan sociopolitical issue. Such issues are described as "salient unresolved social matters on which societal and institutional opinion is split, thus potentially engendering acrimonious debate among groups". [14] Notably, while the controversy surrounding a given issue can change or be resolved, a firm's efforts may be considered CSA to the extent that they reflect engagement with an issue defined as partisan at a given point in time, politics, and culture. Furthermore, the term "brand activism" has been used to describe similar efforts by individual brands (i.e. owned by firms) to vocalize public stances on sociopolitical issues; brand activism can, thus, be considered CSA delivered through a brand's voice.[ citation needed ]
CSR involves firms' contributions to widely favored societal goals (e.g. community resources, education, and donations to disease prevention research) via philanthropic or charitable efforts, [15] [16] CSA pertains to a firm's engagement in causes for which there is no universally acceptable correct response. [2] Furthermore, CSA may involve a lower level of monetary investment (e.g. a press release or an open letter) compared to CSR; however, there is greater risk associated with CSA, due in part to the potential for backlash from various stakeholders. [2] [3]
CSA is distinct from CPA—a firm's efforts (e.g. campaign contributions, lobbying, and donations to political action committees) to sway political processes and gain policy-related market advantages. [17] [18] While both types of firm activities reflect involvement in the political process, they differ in the extent to which they are publicized. CSA is often utilized as a public demonstration of a firm's core values and principles. Conversely, CPA is an often-discreet activity that is typically made public only through "accidental disclosure". [19]
Firms have increasingly taken activist stances on sociopolitical issues across a variety of domains.
Firms have spoken out about racial justice in a number of ways (e.g. affirming support for the Black Lives Matter movement, donating a portion of profits to civil rights organizations). Among the most prominent examples of racial justice CSA came in September 2018 when Nike announced football player Colin Kaepernick as the spokesperson for its thirtieth anniversary advertisement campaign. [20] Notably, Kaepernick stirred national debate in 2016 by kneeling during the National Anthem in protest of racial inequality and police brutality in the United States. [21] In Nike's campaign, Kaepernick said, "Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything." News agencies characterized this tagline as implicit support for Kaepernick's platform of racial justice advocacy. [22]
While Nike's decision initially sparked consumer backlash, as well as a dip in stock price, the firm's value reached an all-time high only a week later. [23] [24] According to a Quinnipiac University poll, much of the persistent consumer support for the ad came from consumers between 18 and 34, two-thirds of whom approved of Nike's actions. [25] This case has been considered a critical turning point in the emergence of CSA as a prominent brand practice. Additional examples of racial justice CSA include the following:
Firms have utilized both internal and external resources to take a stand on issues facing the LGBTQ+ community. For instance, many firms act as corporate sponsors of Pride parades internationally and assist in LGBTQ+ community-building efforts. [29] Published since 2002, the Human Rights Campaign has utilized its Corporate Equality Index (CEI) to measure the extent to which American businesses treat equitably their LGBTQ+ employees, customers, and investors. Criteria used to assess companies include, among others, a written policy of non-discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression; appropriate and respectful advertising to the LGBTQ+ community; and transgender-inclusive health benefits. [30]
There has been an increase in the number of firms with a perfect CEI rating every year since the tool's inception. Such firms frequently release statements and press releases to express satisfaction at having been recognized for their diversity and inclusivity efforts. Notably, many brands have also released Pride-related merchandise in recent years to signal support for LGBTQ+ rights, as well as position themselves as advocates for LGBTQ+ consumers.
While sustainable business practices have long been a component of firms' CSR activities, some companies have taken an activist stance in recent years to address climate change more explicitly. For example, the brand Patagonia has established itself as a chief market-based environmental justice advocate. Its November 2011 "Don't Buy This Jacket" spot in the New York Times served as both an advertisement for the firm's merchandise and an imperative for consumers to reduce their carbon footprint. [34] The ad's message leveraged an anti-consumerist ideology to encourage the purchase of long-lasting outdoor apparel and deter the proliferation of the fast fashion industry. [35] Most large companies across the world have made commitments to climate change. [36] For example:
A number of major firearms sellers have modified their gun sales policies, particularly as a response to mass shootings taking place in the U.S. Two such notable examples are the following:
Firms have engaged in CSA in a number of other domains. Below are select examples.
M.A.C. Cosmetics has worked with Planned Parenthood since 2008 and contributed over $2 million to the organization. [44] According to John Demsey, executive group president of the brand's parent company Estée Lauder, "It is so important for people of all ages, all races and all genders to get the accurate information and care they need so they can live their best, healthiest lives, but we see that a lot of people aren’t seeking that information and care because of stigmas that disproportionately affect women, people of color and the LGBTQ community." [45]
Burger King advocated for net neutrality with a January 2018 ad that illustrated the concept of paid prioritization through hamburger sales—customers were told they would have to wait longer for their food, unless they were willing to pay a premium for immediate service. [46]
Target issued a statement in September 2016 encouraging store employees and patrons to use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity. [47]
In January 2017, nearly 100 Silicon Valley firms filed an amicus brief against the Trump administration's anti-immigration policy directed at refugees, travelers, and visa holders originating from predominantly Muslim portions of the world. [48]
NASCAR announced in July 2020 that it would ban the Confederate flag from all its racing venues. [49]
Research has uncovered the broader financial implications of CSA on firm value including improving firm's attractiveness to a wider segment of investors and customers. On average, investors respond negatively to CSA, though there are a number of factors that may buffer or even reverse this relationship. Most notably, a firm's CSA elicits positive abnormal stock returns when there is high alignment between the firm's CSA and the values of its stakeholders (e.g. customers, employees, and state legislators). In particular, researchers observed an increase in sales growth over the next quarter and year when CSA aligned with customer values. [2]
A number of CSA characteristics have been shown to further heighten investor response: if the activism takes the form of an action, is announced by the CEO, is not justified by a business objective, and is announced alone (vs. in a coalition with other firms). Notably, managers may find it especially appropriate to engage in CSA if they are deeply committed to activism, and it aligns with their strategic objectives (i.e. acquiring a more liberal or conservative customer base). [2] Still, CSA requires strategic deliberation. CSA activities may signal to stakeholders that the firm is willing to engage in risky behaviors and even divert resources from profit-generating activities. Given the enduring nature of activism, it is often plausible for investors to believe CSA serves as a value-based indication of a firm's future decisions, particularly those related to purpose, reputation, and relationship management. [2]
Critics have expressed concern about the degree to which CSA is helpful, either for advancing sociopolitical causes or as a firm activity more generally. By the mid-2010s, forms of rhetoric that were later retroactively labelled as "woke" had entered mainstream media and were being used in marketing and advertising; [50] campaigns associated with this trend have been generally perceived by consumers as insincere and inauthentic, and have provoked cultural backlashes. [51]
Cultural scientists Akane Kanai and Rosalind Gill described woke capitalism as a then-"dramatically intensifying" trend in which public relations pertains to the concerns of historically marginalized groups (such as in terms of race, gender and religion), using them as mascots in advertisements with messages of empowerment. On the one hand, this creates an individualized and depoliticized idea of social justice, using depictions of social action to signify an increase in self-confidence; on the other hand, the omnipresent visibility in advertising of minorities can also amplify a backlash against their equality. For people in lower economic strata, the equality of these minorities thus becomes indispensable to the maintenance of capitalism, with the minorities being seen as responsible for the losses of the system. [52]
The term woke-washing was used in 2019 by Alan Jope, chief executive of Unilever, who warned that brands which failed to take verifiable action on their rhetoric could "further destroy trust in our industry". [53] Helen Lewis held the opinion that cancel culture is the result of what she calls "the iron law of woke capitalism", and believes that it is used for inexpensive messaging as a substitute for genuine reform. [8] Will Hutton wrote that he believed woke capitalism is "the only way forward", citing principles of corporate responsibility. [6] Alternatively, Elizabeth Bruenig observed that while woke capitalism has been seen as an evolution of capitalism that can create unprecedented benefits for the public good, it remains a form of capitalism and hence cannot be celebrated without aligning with capitalist interests; [54] similarly, Andrew V. Abela held the opinion that it does little to actually further progressive causes. [55]
A common argument is that firms are profit-seeking and thus care more about image and reputation than the causes they address. Some have referred to firms' political behavior as akin to "woke-washing", a pejorative term adapted from the similar concept of "greenwashing". Woke-washing is a critique leveraged against firms thought to "appropriate the language of social activism into marketing material". [56] Critics have further argued that firms may utilize greater capital on the appearance of progressivism (i.e. through advertisements and promotional efforts) than on actual cause-related awareness or fundraising efforts. In such circumstances, activism has been criticized as a deceptive marketing tool for capturing demand among belief-driven consumers. [57] Action-based follow-through could be important for fostering perceptions of authentic connection to supported sociopolitical causes. In a 2020 Harvard Business Review article, journalists Erin Dowell and Marlette Jackson said, "Empty company statements can seem to say that Black lives only matter to big business when there’s profit to be made." [56] Others have argued whether firms should engage with sociopolitical issues at all. In particular, some critics have shunned the idea that market-based entities should influence or have a say in what is considered right and wrong.[ citation needed ]
Beginning to a major degree in the 2020s, members of the American right have perpetuated efforts to boycott companies that openly support "woke" causes. The phrase "Go woke, go broke" has been an umbrella catchphrase to denote companies subject to boycotts against companies for "going woke" or engaging in activities like promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion or in the case of Bud Light maker AB InBev, partnering with transgender influencers. Many companies subject to "go woke go broke" campaigns, including AB InBev, Target, and the Walt Disney Company have seen declines in revenue, profit, and/or stock value as of a result of "go woke go broke" campaigns. Some figures in business, such as Mark Cuban, have defended companies engaging in "wokeness" by arguing that engaging in social justice causes reflects companies caring about their customers. [58] [59]
Walmart Inc. is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets, discount department stores, and grocery stores in the United States and 23 other countries. It is headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas. The company was founded in 1962 by brothers Sam and James "Bud" Walton in nearby Rogers, Arkansas. It also owns and operates Sam's Club retail warehouses.
The LGBTQ community is a loosely defined grouping of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning individuals united by a common culture and social movements. These communities generally celebrate pride, diversity, individuality, and sexuality. LGBTQ activists and sociologists see LGBTQ community-building as a counterweight to heterosexism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, sexualism, and conformist pressures that exist in the larger society. The term pride or sometimes gay pride expresses the LGBTQ community's identity and collective strength; pride parades provide both a prime example of the use and a demonstration of the general meaning of the term. The LGBTQ community is diverse in political affiliation. Not all people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender consider themselves part of the LGBTQ community.
The Adbusters Media Foundation is a Canadian-based not-for-profit, pro-environment organization founded in 1989 by Kalle Lasn and Bill Schmalz in Vancouver, British Columbia. Adbusters describes itself as "a global network of artists, activists, writers, pranksters, students, educators and entrepreneurs who want to advance the new social activist movement of the information age."
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) or corporate social impact is a form of international private business self-regulation which aims to contribute to societal goals of a philanthropic, activist, or charitable nature by engaging in, with, or supporting professional service volunteering through pro bono programs, community development, administering monetary grants to non-profit organizations for the public benefit, or to conduct ethically oriented business and investment practices. While once it was possible to describe CSR as an internal organizational policy or a corporate ethic strategy similar to what is now known today as Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG); that time has passed as various companies have pledged to go beyond that or have been mandated or incentivized by governments to have a better impact on the surrounding community. In addition, national and international standards, laws, and business models have been developed to facilitate and incentivize this phenomenon. Various organizations have used their authority to push it beyond individual or industry-wide initiatives. In contrast, it has been considered a form of corporate self-regulation for some time, over the last decade or so it has moved considerably from voluntary decisions at the level of individual organizations to mandatory schemes at regional, national, and international levels. Moreover, scholars and firms are using the term "creating shared value", an extension of corporate social responsibility, to explain ways of doing business in a socially responsible way while making profits.
Ethical consumerism is a type of consumer activism based on the concept of dollar voting. People practice it by buying ethically made products that support small-scale manufacturers or local artisans and protect animals and the environment, while boycotting products that exploit children as workers, are tested on animals, or damage the environment.
Consumers' Research is an American conservative 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Established in 1929, it was a founding organization in the consumer protection movement. It turned to the right after its sale in 1981 to a conservative publisher.
Philip Kotler is an American marketing author, consultant, and professor emeritus; the S. C. Johnson & Son Distinguished Professor of International Marketing at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University (1962–2018). He is known for popularizing the definition of marketing mix. He is the author of over 80 books, including Marketing Management, Principles of Marketing, Kotler on Marketing, Marketing Insights from A to Z, Marketing 4.0, Marketing Places, Marketing of Nations, Chaotics, Market Your Way to Growth, Winning Global Markets, Strategic Marketing for Health Care Organizations, Social Marketing, Social Media Marketing, My Adventures in Marketing, Up and Out of Poverty, and Winning at Innovation. Kotler describes strategic marketing as serving as "the link between society's needs and its pattern of industrial response."
Nike, Inc. is an American athletic footwear and apparel corporation headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, United States. It is the world's largest supplier of athletic shoes and apparel and a major manufacturer of sports equipment, with revenue in excess of US$46 billion in its fiscal year 2022.
Consumer activism is a process by which activists seek to influence the way in which goods or services are produced or delivered. Kozinets and Handelman define it as any social movement that uses society's drive for consumption to the detriment of business interests. For Eleftheria Lekakis, author of Consumer Activism: Promotional Culture and Resistance, it includes a variety of consumer practices that range from boycotting and ‘buycotting’ to alternative economic practices, lobbying businesses or governments, practising minimal or mindful consumption, or addressing the complicity of advertising in climate change. Consumer activism includes both activism on behalf of consumers for consumer protection and activism by consumers themselves. Consumerism is made up of the behaviors, institutions, and ideologies created from the interaction between people and the materials and services they consume. Consumer activism has several aims:
Culture jamming is a form of protest used by many anti-consumerist social movements to disrupt or subvert media culture and its mainstream cultural institutions, including corporate advertising. It attempts to "expose the methods of domination" of mass society.
Activism consists of efforts to promote, impede, direct or intervene in social, political, economic or environmental reform with the desire to make changes in society toward a perceived common good. Forms of activism range from mandate building in a community, petitioning elected officials, running or contributing to a political campaign, preferential patronage of businesses, and demonstrative forms of activism like rallies, street marches, strikes, sit-ins, or hunger strikes.
Pinkwashing, also known as rainbow-washing, is the strategy of deploying messages that are superficially sympathetic towards the LGBTQ community for ends having little or nothing to do with LGBTQ equality or inclusion, including LGBTQ marketing.
Brandalism is an activist artist collective founded in 2012 in the United Kingdom which engages in subvertising, culture jamming, and protest art. Brandalism uses subvertising to alter and critique corporate advertising by creating parodies or spoofs to replace ads in public areas. The art is typically intended to draw attention to political and social issues such as consumerism and the environment. Advertisements produced by the Brandalism movement are silk screen printed artworks, and may take the form of a new image, or a satirical alteration to an existing image, icon or logo. The advertisements are often pasted over billboards, or propped under the glass of roadside advertising spaces.
Rainbow capitalism is the involvement of capitalism, corporate capitalism, and consumerism in appropriating and profiting from the LGBT movement. It developed in the 20th and 21st centuries as the LGBT community became more accepted in society and developed sufficient purchasing power, known as pink money. Early rainbow capitalism was limited to gay bars and gay bathhouses, though it expanded to most industries by the early-21st century.
Woke, the African-American English synonym for the General American English word awake, has since the 1930s or earlier been used to refer to awareness of social and political issues affecting African Americans, often in the construction stay woke.
Purplewashing is a term used to describe the practice of using feminist or LGBTQ+ issues to mask discriminatory or harmful practices. It involves selectively promoting certain aspects of feminism or LGBTQ+ rights to improve a company's or organization's image, while often neglecting or undermining these same issues in other contexts.
Redwashing, derived from combining red with whitewashing, is the practice of a state, organization, political party, or company presenting itself as progressive and concerned about social equality and justice, in order to use this perception for public relations or economic gain. In regard to the sphere of politics specifically, the term typically refers to right-wing populists adopting left wing ideals.
Brand activism refers to the practice of businesses taking public stances on social, political, economic, or environmental issues, with the aim of contributing to societal change. Unlike traditional corporate social responsibility (CSR), which often focuses on philanthropy and internal ethical practices, brand activism involves actively addressing contentious social or political issues, such as systemic racism, reproductive rights, gun control, LGBTQIA+ rights, immigration, sexual harassment, and public health.
Go woke, go broke, or alternatively get woke, go broke, is an American political catchphrase used by right-wing groups to criticize and boycott businesses publicly supporting progressive policies, including empowering women, LGBT people and critical race theory, claiming that stock value and business performance will inevitably suffer as a result of adopting values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Opinions differ on the genuine impact of the phrase.
Corporate political responsibility (CPR) is a corporate responsibility concept that emphasizes the political dimension of a company's actions. The concept was developed in the 2010s as an enhancement of existing frameworks such as Corporate Social Responsibility. CPR regards the social and ecological aspects underlined by CSR as inherently connected to the political, thus highlighting the interdependence of business activities with the public realm, societal institutions and collective goods.
adverts span from 2015–2018, which reflects the point at which the language of 'woke(ness)' entered mainstream media and marketing spheres