In the name of the people: populism and the articulation of corporate political obligation

Purpose This study explores the changing dynamics between business and society under rising global populism by drawing on and expanding the emerging research on corporate political obligations (CPOs). Adopting a discursive perspective on populism, it focuses on the processes through which the populist political logic shapes the construction of CPOs. Design/methodology/approach Using articulation theory as the method of analysis and China as the research site, this study investigates how CPOs are discursively framed through the creation of linguistic connections, nodal points and chains of equivalence. These mechanisms articulate the popular will and delineate the boundaries of political obligation. Findings The findings highlight three insights. First, beyond direct demands, governments may influence corporate obligations by discursively presenting their agendas as the authentic expression of popular will, often framed in opposition to a political elite. Second, the public plays an active role by giving meaning to corporate actions through discursive linkages they create. Third, because discourse is never fully closed, alternative articulations remain possible, revealing the contested nature of CPOs. Originality/value CPOs represent a novel area of inquiry, addressing the rise of global populism and its influence on business-society relations. This study advances the understanding of CPOs by shifting the focus from “populist governments” to the discursive field of articulation. It also reframes the populist moment as part of an ongoing struggle over the meaning of corporate responsibility and an attempt to condense diverse stakeholder demands into a unifying popular demand.