Corporate Social Engagement Framework in a Fully Functioning Society

Corporations play a growing role in advancing social goods in contemporary society. Beyond traditional corporate social responsibility (CSR), many companies now actively engage in advocacy and activism, shaping public policy and social discourse. This shift reflects increasing expectations for businesses to address the systemic problems and contribute to a just society. However, corporate social engagement (CSE) has also sparked backlash, as political and ideological divisions have led some stakeholders and political actors to challenge corporate involvement in social and political matters. In an era of growing political polarization, some corporations have doubled down on their core values, while others have retreated in response to political and stakeholder pushback. Businesses’ decisions to stand firm or concede have sparked varied public reactions. This debate highlights the evolving role of businesses in balancing profit motives with broader social responsibilities. This chapter examines evolving and shifting views and expectations of the roles that businesses play in social and political issues under the lens of CSE and proposes a CSE framework along four dimensions (motivation, visibility, engagement driver, and risk), from corporate neutrality to principled corporate dissent (PCD), an underexplored form of CSE that challenges prevailing norms and status quos.