Abstract
As American business looks toward the future and its role in the policy-making process, it must consider how it is going to be affected by this country’s ongoing demographic changes. As was the case in the 2012 elections, the changing face of American politics has the potential to produce a dramatic impact on the nature of business-government relations. This essay examines the future of business advocacy in the context of America’s emerging demographics in three areas. First, although Republicans have long claimed to be “the party of business,” the turn to the right by the GOP has created significant difficulties for business lobbies. Second, since the political profile of business can be influenced by the ways in which they define corporate social responsibility, analysis turns to the pressures business faces from both their own employees and outside groups to embrace particular values or causes. Finally, the essay addresses business leadership. If business leaders looked like America, would it make any difference in terms of business advocacy?
About the author
Jeffrey M. Berry is Skuse Professor of Political Science at Tufts University. His books include The Rebirth of Urban Democracy, The New Liberalism, The Interest Group Society, A Voice for Nonprofits, and Lobbying and Policy Change.
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