Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the disruption to civic accountability by strategic corporate action in the form of SLAPP suits.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper provides ...empirical evidence of the discursive processes underpinning participatory and emancipatory accountability regimes through the lens of deliberative democracy and the Habermasian ideal of the public sphere.
Findings
Within this paper, it is argued that the strategic use of SLAPPs by corporations presents a danger to both mechanistic and virtuous forms of accountability regardless of what deliberative democratic theory is adopted. Habermas’ theory of communicative action and notion of the “public sphere” is utilised to demonstrate how SLAPPs can result in the colonisation of public discursive arenas to prevent others providing alternative (in form) and counter (in view) accounts of corporate behaviour and thus act to limit opportunities for corporate accountability.
Social implications
This paper throws light on a practice being utilised by corporations to limit public participation in democratic and participatory accountability processes. Strategic use of SLAPPs limit the “ability” for citizens to provide an alternative “account” of corporate behaviour.
Originality/value
This paper is original in that it analyses the impact on accountability of strategic corporate practice of issuing SLAPP suits to “chill” public political discussion and limit protest about issues of social and civic importance. The paper extends the critical accounting literature into improving dialogic and participatory accountability regimes.
Strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) brought against the environmental movement in the UK since the 1990s are examined. SLAPPs, a form of Green backlash, have been mobilised ...across a wide range of policy areas that have seen vigorous campaigning and protest by the movement, including roads, GMOs and, more recently, climate change. SLAPPs are typically regarded as a threat, designed to close down democratic free speech and protest. However, in the UK, there are some notable cases where the environmental movement has been able to use agency to convert what may appear as a legal threat into a positive legal or media opportunity.
Purpose
– This paper aims to explore any potential link between the corporate issue of a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) with a changed environmental, social and governance ...(ESG) reporting focus as part of a complementary communicative legitimation strategy.
Design/methodology/approach
– A longitudinal content analysis of the annual reports of three sample Australian corporations was undertaken, measuring changes in ESG disclosure levels and disclosure focus around the time a SLAPP was issued by each sample firm.
Findings
– This paper provides support for the contention that both the number of ESG disclosures and the type of ESG disclosures changed after the sample firms issued SLAPPs.
Research limitations/implications
– A number of limitations are identified within the paper, including difficulties identifying when SLAPPs are initiated.
Originality/value
– To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first investigation of the relationship between SLAPPs and ESG reporting, and this study helps open up a new area of research into how ESG reporting is used by corporations in a strategic manner.
Streichen, Zupfen, Slappen Englmair, Thomas; Mathelitsch, Leopold; Verovnik, Ivo
Physik in unserer Zeit,
July 2018, 20180701, Volume:
49, Issue:
4
Journal Article
Zusammenfassung
Kontrabässe sind wie Gamben in Quarten gestimmt, besitzen aber f‐Löcher wie Violinen. Helmholtz‐ und Hauptresonanz sowie die Saitenschwingungen prägen das Frequenzspek trum. ...Untersuchungen zweier Bässe zeigen: Eine Fichtenholzdecke sorgt für intensivere Obertöne und gibt die Klangcharakteristika verschiedener Saiten hörbarer wieder als eine aus Sperrholz. Bei der Spieltechnik ist das Slappen subjektiv lauter als das Zupfen, das aber eine höhere mittlere Schall intensität aufweist.
Kontrabässe sind die mächtigsten Vertreter der Geigenfamilie. Doch ihr Klangspektrum beschränkt sich nicht nur auf den Frequenzkeller.
Unknown title Bojesen, Bo (1923-2006) bladtegner Image
Open access
Director relaxes in alternative armchair Director type is on top of a drill platform in the shape of an armchair belonging to the Danish Underground Consortium. He smokes cigar and keys on his cell ...phone.
Direktør slapper af i alternativ lænestol Direktørtype ligger oven på en boreplatform i facon af en lænestol, som tilhører Dansk Undergrunds Consortium. Han ryger cigar og taster på sin mobiltelefon.
Direktør slapper af i alternativ lænestol Direktørtype ligger oven på en boreplatform i facon af en lænestol, som tilhører Dansk Undergrunds Consortium. Han ryger cigar og taster på sin mobiltelefon.
Tusch Dagens tegning
Godt brølt, løve Bojesen, Bo (1923-2006) bladtegner
1968.11.19
Image
Open access
Vi har bygget et falsk mandsideal op, siger Inge og Sten Hegeler i søndagens Ninka-interview, og de efterlyser den følsomme mand, der ikke er bange for at græde.
Kvinde og maskulin mand ligger i seng ...mens slap, grædende mand står ved siden af. Manden kommer hjem fra en rejse og finder sin hustru i seng med en anden mand.
Vi har bygget et falsk mandsideal op, siger Inge og Sten Hegeler i søndagens Ninka-interview, og de efterlyser den følsomme mand, der ikke er bange for at græde.
Kvinde og maskulin mand ligger i seng mens slap, grædende mand står ved siden af. Manden kommer hjem fra en rejse og finder sin hustru i seng med en anden mand.
Tusch Dagens Tegning 1968
Man lies relaxing in sand castle, while three other men try to storm it. The Jutland opposition is trying to storm the West Jutland sand castle, but they cannot penetrate the defense.
På ...Turistforeningen for Danmarks formandsmøde, hvor Vestkystens sandborge havde en fremtrædende plads i debatten, hindrede et vel tilrettelagt forsvarsprogram, at den jyske oppositions angreb fik nogen virkning.
Mand ligger og slapper af i sandslot, mens tre andre mænd forsøger at storme det. Den jyske opposition forsøger at storme det vestjyske sandslot, men de kan ikke trænge gennem forsvaret.
På Turistforeningen for Danmarks formandsmøde, hvor Vestkystens sandborge havde en fremtrædende plads i debatten, hindrede et vel tilrettelagt forsvarsprogram, at den jyske oppositions angreb fik nogen virkning.
Mand ligger og slapper af i sandslot, mens tre andre mænd forsøger at storme det. Den jyske opposition forsøger at storme det vestjyske sandslot, men de kan ikke trænge gennem forsvaret.
Tusch Dagens Tegning 1963
- Står der noget om os i dag, darling?
Det engelske bladangreb medførte, at dronningeparret besluttede at holde sig mere hjemme.
Det engelske dronningepar slapper af med TV og avis Pressen og andre ...interesserede får ikke lov at komme ind til de kongelige og forstyrre deres hyggestund
Tusch og akvarel Højresidetegning 1957
- Is there anything about us today, darling?
- Står der noget om os i dag, darling?
Det engelske bladangreb medførte, at dronningeparret besluttede at holde sig mere hjemme.
Det engelske dronningepar slapper af med TV og avis Pressen og andre interesserede får ikke lov at komme ind til de kongelige og forstyrre deres hyggestund
Tusch og akvarel Højresidetegning 1957
- There is no business like showbusiness . . .
Venstresocialisterne mener at man har taget deres optræden som talekor i Folketinget alt for tungt.
Venstresocialister på slap line i Folketinget ...Venstresocialisterne har allesammen den samme sweater på mens de danser can can på scenen
Tusch Dagens Tegning 1979
- There is no business like showbusiness . . .
Venstresocialisterne mener at man har taget deres optræden som talekor i Folketinget alt for tungt.
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