Starbucks for President: The Disappearing Line between Government and Business as Agents for Social Change

Abstract

This paper will explore the rise of corporate social advocacy (CSA) among business, including the social and legal developments that make it ripe for this engagement to take place. The analysis will also explore the potential impact of CSA on social change and democracy in the United States, including exploration of the motives of businesses engaged in such advocacy and the connection between political and social positions with consumer behavior. Lastly, this paper will identify some of the dangers of corporate advocacy in terms of its impact on the government and businesses, as well as on the voice of the people. The study also identifies various factors that may indicate whether this is a trend or a fundamental change in how companies deal with changes values-based.