The Power of Business

Abstract

The introduction to the special issue develops a systematic and theoretically grounded framework for assessing business power in global governance. It is shown that power is said to have shifted from the world of states to the world of business. However, in order to evaluate such a claim first a differentiation of power in its instrumental, structural, and discursive facets is necessary. It is furthermore explained that the strength of such a three-dimensional assessment is that it combines different levels of analysis and considers actor-specific and structural dimensions and their material and ideational sources. Following a short introduction to the more empirical articles is provided summarizing their commonalities and differences.

Managerial Views of Corporate Impacts and Dependencies on Ecosystem Services: A Case of International and Domestic Forestry Companies in China

“…Large scale corporations have an increasing influence on global level agenda-and rule-setting by holding discursive and persuasive power (Fuchs and Lederer, 2007), as recently witnessed in the process of designing new Sustainable Development Goals. Attention should, however, not be diverted from the public character of biodiversity and ecosystems, and from the role of individual consumers and citizens (van den Burg and Bogaart, 2014).…”

A critical perspective on corporate social responsibility

“…At the level of the firm strategic governance features can involve expanding the role of directors to include environmental and social governance apart from corporate governance (Parkinson, 2003), developing comprehensive stakeholder engagement strategies (Aguilera et al, 2007;Freeman, 1984), or promoting workplace democracy (Kelly, 2001 democracy. Public-private partnerships may represent a more participatory approach to development but the rules governing these partnerships tend to be framed by business through structural and discursive power relations (Fuchs and Lederer, 2007). As Mouffe (2000: 14) argues, if relations of power are constitutive of the social, then the 'main question for democratic politics is not how to eliminate power but how to constitute forms of power more compatible…”

Critical Perspectives on Business and the Natural Environment

“…Open dialogue between confl icting interests may manufacture an uneasy form of consent, and perhaps off er better transparency, but it still does not address how accountability can be established and enforced in the context of deliberate democracy. Public-private partnerships may represent a more participatory approach to development, but the rules governing these partnerships tend to be framed by business through structural and discursive power relations ( Fuchs & Lederer 2007 ). As Mouff e ( 2000 : 14) argues, if relations of power are constitutive of the social, then the "main question for democratic politics is not how to eliminate power but how to constitute forms of power more compatible with democratic values. "…”