Bavarian Broadcasting Interview on CEO Activism and Corporate Democratic Responsibility

How legitimate is political engagement by business leaders, and what role can companies play in strengthening democratic institutions? These questions were explored in a feature by Bavarian Broadcasting (BR), which included an interview with Prof. Dr. Markus Scholz, Chair of Responsible Management at the International Institute (IHI) Zittau, TU Dresden.

The discussion was prompted by recent public statements from prominent business leaders opposing anti-democratic and right-wing populist developments. In conversation with journalist Ingo Lierheimer, Prof. Scholz examined the opportunities, risks, and limitations of CEO activism and discussed the conditions under which corporate political engagement can be both legitimate and effective.

The interview emphasized that public statements by CEOs represent only one form of corporate political engagement. Long-term contributions to democratic resilience may also take the form of civic education initiatives, democratic corporate cultures, support for civil society organizations, or collective action by businesses.