Hard Times, Hard Choices

Marketing Retrenchment as Civic Empowerment in an Era of Neoliberal Crisis

Dados Bibliográficos

ID4237296
AutoresC W Lee (0000-0003-0903-2060, Lafayette College, autor correspondente), Kelly McNulty (Lafayette College), Shaffer, Steven L Shaffer (Lafayette College), S Shaffer
Ano2013
Volume11
Fascículo1
Páginas81-106
Data de publicação2013-01-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoSocio-Economic Review (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1475-1461 • E-ISSN: 1475-147X
EditoraOxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1093/ser/mws015
OpenAlexW2123666118
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas6
Referências citadas37

This article uses the moralized markets and markets as politics literatures in economic sociology to explore the emerging industry of private consultants who produce ‘democratic’ dialogues for organizational clients from all sectors. In multi-method field research, we (a) trace moralized processes by which market activity and political process are distinguished in an era of financial crisis, and (b) argue that the ability to produce authentic civic-ness is valuable specifically because distinctions between business, government and civil society have become less meaningful in contemporary neoliberal governance. Engagement consultants construct social and economic profits as interdependent and mutually reinforcing, while claiming protection from both business as usual and ordinary politics—a ‘positive’ outcome useful for budget-slashing and benefit-cutting at a moment when authorities face a loss of public faith. Such findings contribute to a better understanding of the historical resiliency of neoliberalism and reveal the meaning-centered dynamics of politicization in moralized markets.

Civil society · Corporate governance · Economics · Government (linguistics) · Management · Neoliberalism (international relations) · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Retrenchment · Sociology · Law · Management and Organizational Studies · Nonprofit Sector and Volunteering · Public Administration · Social and Cultural Dynamics