This online event brings together leading scholars and practitioners to examine how corporate power is evolving in a context marked by geopolitical tensions, regulatory transformation, and democratic challenges. Across three thematic sessions, the workshop will explore the intersections between business, human rights, environmental governance, and corporate political strategies.
The first session focuses on business and human rights, the rule of law, and corporate accountability, highlighting new data initiatives, field-based evidence, and ongoing regulatory debates in Europe and beyond. Speakers will discuss how corporate impacts are measured, contested, and governed, and how current policy processes are reshaping the landscape of business and human rights.
The second session turns to environmental regulation, industrial policy, and strategic lobbying, examining how firms influence regulatory outcomes and how governance frameworks—particularly within the EU—respond to sustainability challenges. Contributions will address topics such as deforestation regulation, sustainable finance, lobbying dynamics, and public attitudes towards environmental policies.
The final session addresses populism, democratic backsliding, and corporate political strategy, exploring how firms engage with political processes in increasingly polarized contexts. Presentations will consider when and how corporations act to support (or undermine) democratic institutions, and how environmental and social externalities intersect with political discontent.
The event will conclude with a collective discussion among speakers, reflecting on key insights and future research directions.
📄 Download the full programme here.
This event is part of the Rebalance Project’s ongoing efforts to advance the policy agenda on corporate power and its societal implications.
