DIVERSITY IN CORPORATE NETWORKS
Session at the 2nd ISA Forum of Sociology Conference
Buenos Aires, Argentina
August, 1 – 4, 2012
http://www.isa-sociology.org/buenos-aires-2012/
Panel Abstract:
Elite ‘old boys’ networks
of corporate directors are, in general, not well regarded. The closed network
restricts the pool of talent from which new directors can be recruited and
reinforces established social cleavages in our societies. Both in public
discussion as in academic debates there have been many calls for a more diverse
board composition.
The (dis)advantages of less homogeneous boards have
predominantly been studied from an individual firm perspective. In this
perspective diversity is related to board efficacy. This research however
suffers from the problem of causality: are successful firms recruiting
minorities or is it in fact the other way around. Nevertheless, a wide consensus
remains in place concerning the need for more homines novi to be recruited on
corporate board, especially women and ethnic minorities. If not for the positive
effect on board performance, diversity enhances representation. In that sense
diversity is an inherent good and part and parcel of the democratization of
society.
This suggests that one can also approach the issue of diversity
from a business community perspective. Corporate elite networks express
demographic and political changes in society, but they have hardly been studied
as such. Taking this new perspective opens up a wide variety of new and exciting
questions this panel invites to ask, such as: how large has the inflow of
homines novi actually been and what has been the effect on the corporate elite
networks, both in its structure as in its content. Do the norms and values that
govern the business community change when de composition of the business elite
changes? Do the new directors also bring more trust and better reputation? Does
diversity have an impact on the structure of the corporate networks? Does
diversity indeed improve the efficacy of the corporate networks? And how did the
call for governmental or quasi-governmental control following the financial
crisis caused new recruitment patterns?
The aim of this session is to
ask these and related questions and build an answer from a business community
perspective.
Abstracts should be submitted to organizing chairs by 15th December 2011 through the conference website
http://www.isa-sociology.org/buenos-aires-2012/rc/rc.php?n=RC02
For further information please contact organizing chairs:
Meindert Fennema mailto:[log in to unmask]
Eelke Heemskerk [log in to unmask]
Department of Politics, University of Amsterdam
Deadlines:
Abstracts submission: 15th December 2011
Registration for the conference: 10th April 2012
For further details about Conference please visit: