Theses Doctoral

Firm Strategy and the Shaping of Sociopolitical Discourse

Ryu, Angela

This dissertation examines how firms extend competitive strategies into nonmarket environments by shaping sociopolitical discourse - the dynamic forum determining which sociopolitical issues are discussed, how they are framed, and whose perspectives hold sway. To strategically shape sociopolitical discourse, firms seek disproportionate influence over market competitors and sociopolitical actors, competing with both countervailing and similar voices. By leveraging this influence, firms reshape the competitive landscape to their advantage.

The first chapter examines how firms use lobbying to limit competitors' influence on sociopolitical discourse, focusing on negative lobbying to counter competitor-supported legislative proposals that disproportionately benefit rivals. It also examines how these strategies intensify in low-growth industries, where zero-sum dynamics heighten competitive pressures to block rivals from gaining strategic advantages. The second chapter investigates how corporate leaders, through targeted political contributions, shape the discourse around their priorities, amplifying their influence on public-facing messaging in ways that outweigh other sociopolitical actors. The third chapter analyzes how media firms compete for virality by crafting content that drives public engagement, often drawing disproportionate attention to specific narratives and shaping sociopolitical discourse.

These chapters demonstrate how firms use sociopolitical discourse as a core element of their broader competitive strategy, shaping both market outcomes and the sociopolitical landscapes that influence competitive dynamics.

Files

This item is currently under embargo. It will be available starting 2029-12-15.

More About This Work

Academic Units
Business
Thesis Advisors
Kogut, Bruce M.
Degree
Ph.D., Columbia University
Published Here
January 15, 2025