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Business in Society Blog

Provocative: Supreme Court and free speech on the Internet: “Who Should Regulate Online Speech?’

“When all is said and done, this Supreme Court term will likely be the most consequential yet for free speech on the Internet.” – David Cole in his new book review (print edition) https://bit.ly/49IXg1z of “Social Media, Freedom of Speech and Future of Democracy.” Professor Cole, the Honorable George J. Mitchell Professor of Law and […]

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Three cheers (and more) for E.S.G. !

A virtual debate: “Resolved: E.S.G. needs – and deserves – a robust, spirited, and informed defense.” [E.S.G. in the current corporate social responsibility lexicon: ”Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) is a set of considerations, including environmental issues, social issues and corporate governance that can be considered in investing.” Wikipedia] E.S.G. critics and sceptics now […]

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“Europe is in danger” from Russian disinformation wave and far-right political parties, Putin/Lenin “link”

  Vladimir Putin is running Vladimir Lenin’s 1919 “playbook” with 2024 weapons – especially advanced communications technology. They share these “plays”: A movement born of socio-political turmoil. A cult leader. Regional/global ambitions. Assault on democracy in favor of autocracy. Violation of international law. A torrent of lies (“disinformation” in the current vernacular). Brutality. Evidence: This […]

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The horrific Mideast War is also a DEI safety challenge for companies. Some are taking “The Pledge to Listen”

“Mideast War pushes employers to extend diversity programs to faith groups. Workers are asking employers to respond to rising Islamophobia and antisemitism. But office discussions about religion are difficult.” That’s the alarming headline and sub-head on a new digital edition New York Times major business-section featured report. https://nyti.ms/4aiPtIF The horrific Gaza war is, of course, […]

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“The Bottom-Line Case For Democracy”: Companies are offering employees lessons in civics, democracy and debunking disinformation

For a few moments, put aside the current highly divisive debate on whether companies should take public positions on political and social issues and consider this:   A growing number of companies in the U.S. and Europe are offering their employees seminars on democratic principles and the dangers of conspiracy theories – civics training that […]

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Can updated liberal arts studies help de-fuse cultural wars? Stanford University’s School of Humanities/Sciences is trying it with a new core curriculum

To help defuse the current culture wars and develop student citizenship, Stanford University’s School of Humanities and Sciences is introducing a new first-year core curriculum, “Civic, Liberal and Global Education”.   https://stanford.io/3r3EdOr   The curriculum “seeks to celebrate the diversity of students … while incorporating many of the important political and ethical aspects of citizenship…” […]

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U.S./China relations and well beyond: Let’s double down on Soft Power/Public Diplomacy. PR pros can help.

“We believe that the world is big enough for both countries to thrive. “ (Treasury Secretary Janett Yellen, July 9, 2023 news conference.) “China and the U.S., Still Adversaries, Are Talking. That’s a Start…” “Treasury Secretary Janett Yellen … said the two sides would pursue ‘more frequent communication’ despite their deep differences.”  https://nyti.ms/3rkt63A   [Skeptics, […]

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Looming SCOTUS action on college affirmative action hangs heavy on the schools, American society

  “Sometime this month, our nation’s highest court will hand down the latest of its long (although for many, not eagerly) awaited decisions addressing a legal issue at the core of America’s cultural divide. “This case – more accurately two cases – concern the use of race in admissions programs at colleges and universities.” That […]

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Protected: Want to bolster liberal arts studies? See the Manhattan College “social contract” presentation

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

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Is a university a university without liberal arts?

That’s the gripping capsule summary of a new seminal analysis by New York Times guest columnist Bret C. Devereaux: “College Should Be More Than Just Vocational Schools” https://nyti.ms/43l57zO Or to be blunt: Will liberal arts studies adapt enough – and fast enough – to survive the current attacks on it? There is, of course, much at stake. […]

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Journalists and foreign affairs experts: “What’s up with China (China!) mediating an historic Iran-Saudi peace deal?” Think “hearts and minds”

Today, journalists and foreign affairs experts are exploring, “What’s up with China [China!] mediating an historic Iran-Saudi Arabia peace deal?” An answer: global hearts and minds. Headline and subhead of The New York Times report on China’s surprising new role as mediator in the just-announced Shiite-majority Iran /Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia peace deal: China’s Role in Iran-Saudi Arabia […]

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Business leaders – and many other “influentials” – must “blow the whistle” on the political ESG football. “It’s just common sense.”

A recent New York Times headline said it all concerning the current political attack on ESG investing and companies’ commitment to social responsibility: “On Wall St., ‘Socially Responsible’ Is Common Sense. In Congress, It’s Political”.   https://nyti.ms/3ZEkHUr   Columnist Jeff Sommer, analyzing the current political backlash on ESG: “In the financial world, trillions of dollars […]

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Vital, but unsung immigration news: US business/government Partners expanding funds to address root causes in Central America

With all the attention to the longstanding, seemingly intractable and tragic turmoil at the U.S. southern border — and many other major newsbreaks   — you may have missed this vital, yet under-reported related news from The New York Times last week: “Harris Announces Funding to Address Root Causes of Migration” “WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris […]

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We should be alarmed, and motivated, by the new wave of challenges to college liberal arts studies, especially history

Under the New York Times headline, “The Dangerous Decline of the Historical Profession” Daniel Bessner , associate professor of international studies at Washington University, lays out this distressing observation: History teachers and students are dwindling; financial support is wavering; tenure is in decline; and political-ideological assaults are spreading. https://nyti.ms/3Xp1NQm  “As Americans fight over their history, the historical […]

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The roiling political assault on ESG and the business social contract is about to hit Washington D.C.

Rally around the “ESG flag” folks. It’s about to be fired upon in the U.S. Congress. “ESG”, the well-established acronym for Environment/Social/Governance, the contemporary evolution of business addressing social as well as economic issues, is now becoming the latest target for right-wing politicians. In the U.S Senate session starting January 3rd, five senators will be […]

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