An American Political Ideological Conflict and Its Revelations About Accounting and the Accounting Profession

ABSTRACT This study analyses how accounting and the accounting profession were portrayed in a political ideological conflict surrounding the 2008 Global Financial Crisis (GFC) by analysing a report that was issued by a congressionally appointed commission in the United States. The Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission issued a majority report and two dissenting reports; political ideologies which are generally representative of the dominant ones currently in the United States were found to be the source of the divergent interpretations. While both the liberal and conservative ideologies are present, a third category of the conflicted conservatives is explored (Ellis and Stimson [2012]. Ideology in America. Cambridge University Press). Accounting and the profession were portrayed and deployed differently in each of the reports as a means to support the motivating ideology. While accounting as a set of standards or a tool perceived according to the traditional divide of the conservative and liberal political ideologies might be limited in its reach to generate change, focusing on the conflicted conservatives provides some opportunities to explore for future interventions. The accounting profession is also in a unique position to maintain trust with a divided public which provides some space to navigate in a competing world.