Firms, CEOs, employees, and shareholders have become increasingly willing to take public stances on controversial sociopolitical and environmental issues, which oftentimes do not directly affect firm performance or survival. Hitherto, researchers have examined the aforementioned forms of corporate activism independently; however, how might these different types of corporate activism be integrated into one comprehensive framework? In this paper, we explore the various types of corporate activism and establish a typology of its potential sources and its connection to the corporation. We not only distinguish between the different forms of corporate activism, but additionally (1) identify and draw together the theories used to explain each approach, and (2) propose a theory behind the broader emerging phenomenon.
