Management Papers
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of this Version
6-1-2015
Publication Source
American Sociological Review
Volume
80
Issue
3
Start Page
654
Last Page
678
DOI
10.1177/0003122415581335
Abstract
This project explores whether and how corporations become more receptive to social activist challenges over time. Drawing from social movement theory, we suggest a dynamic process through which contentious interactions lead to increased receptivity. We argue that when firms are chronically targeted by social activists, they respond defensively by adopting strategic management devices that help them better manage social issues and demonstrate their normative appropriateness. These defensive devices have the incidental effect of empowering independent monitors and increasing corporate accountability, which in turn increase a firm’s receptivity to future activist challenges. We test our theory using a unique longitudinal dataset that tracks contentious attacks and the adoption of social management devices among a population of 300 large firms from 1993 to 2009.
Copyright/Permission Statement
Mary-Hunter McDonnell, Brayden G. King & Sarah A. Soule, "A Dynamic Process Model of Private Politics: Activist Targeting and Corporate Receptivity to Social Challenges", American Sociological Review, 80(3), pp. 654-678. Copyright © 2015 SAGE. Reprinted by permission of SAGE Publications.
Keywords
social movements, organization theory, non-market strategy, corporate social responsibility
Recommended Citation
McDonnell, P., King, B. G., & Soule, S. A. (2015). A Dynamic Process Model of Private Politics: Activist Targeting and Corporate Receptivity to Social Challenges. American Sociological Review, 80 (3), 654-678. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0003122415581335
Date Posted: 19 February 2018
This document has been peer reviewed.