Corporate Governance and Accountability in an Evolving Political Environment

Abstract

The political environment of corporations has been evolving rapidly. There has been increasing pressure to hold corporations accountable for social, environmental and political aspects of the business enterprise – even the very purpose of the corporation has been challenged. The salience of corporate matters has increased overall as a result of changes in the political environment and an increasing awareness of corporate externalities. With the growing economic and political significance of corporations, corporate governance has emerged as a relevant framework for political action. These developments have affected the relationships among corporate constituencies and the boundaries of the corporate enterprise. Based on a political approach to corporate governance, this paper considers the resulting implications for the legal premises of corporate governance in an EU context. The paper argues that current corporate structures may not reflect the requirements of the rapidly evolving political environment. Corporate governance, corporate social responsibility, politicization of the corporation