The New Political Capitalism: How Businesses and Societies Can Thrive in a Deeply Politicized World

Description

The New Political Capitalism bridges the gap between the reality of the relationship between politics and business, and the lack of familiarity of the business community, even at the most senior levels, with political thinking. The book demonstrates how businesses that develop effective political antennae can enhance their performance in the emerging age of Political Capitalism. This new book challenges the notion that business is, or can ever be, 'apolitical'. It argues that politics - the visible reflection of social values and cultural trends - shapes the environment in which business operates. More and more people are becoming politicised in the sense that they have, strong views about how our societies should function - and the role that business must play. Socio-political issues increasingly affect purchasing decisions with the marketplace becoming one way in which citizens express their political identity - the rise of what some have called 'political consumerism'. Markets themselves are politically constructed, and investors increasingly focus on corporations' political positions - be they environmental or societal. Drawing upon extensive research and case studies, this book weaves together socio-political trends with business purpose, strategy and operations. From why businesses exist at all, to the importance of diversity, and what a company stands for, both culturally and politically, The New Political Capitalism dissects the new opportunities available for those businesses that can develop effective political antennae.

Joe Zammit-Lucia has had extensive experience both in the business and the political worlds. He is a founder of RADIX - a not-for-profit public policy think tank based in London, and the RADIX Centre for Business, Politics & Society based in Amsterdam. Trained as a physician at the University of London, his later experience spanned R&D, marketing, global brand management, strategic planning, industry economics and public policy. He then founded his own management consulting firm that, within 10 years, grew to 150 staff with offices in Cambridge (UK), New York and Tokyo. He also acted as a Special Advisor to the Director General at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and was a member of the Dean's Advisory Board at the College of Arts, Sciences and Education, Florida International University. He is currently on the Advisory Board of the Singapore Forum for long-term investors and business leaders.

A major contribution to the emerging literature on the future of capitalism. * Professor Sir John Kay, London School of Economics and Political Science; Fellow, St John's College, Oxford. * Essential reading for all who are seeking to build more resilient societies based on better political and better business cultures. * Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Prime Minister of Denmark, 2011-2015; member of the European Council on Foreign Relations. * As an enlightened observer of the world of politics as well as business, Joe Zammit-Lucia gives us a landmark book. I advise all students of political science to read it. * Renaud Girard, Grand Rapporteur and Chief Foreign Correspondent, Le Figaro; Professor of International Strategy, Sciences Po, Paris. * An essential guide for establishing a stable and sustainable future out of the incoherent chaos that surrounds us. * William H Janeway, Managing Director, Warburg Pincus Private Equity, New York; Faculty Member, University of Cambridge. * Timely, highly relevant, insightful, useful and readable are the words that come to mind as I read The New Political Capitalism. * Gail Klinsworth, Inter alia Board Chair, Globescan, Toronto, and Chair, Board of Trustees, The Shell Foundation; Chief Sustainability Officer, Unilever 2012-2015. * Joe brings together a rare combination of strengths: he has a nose for new trends; he is a critical thinker; and his writings are lucid and with wit. The New Political Capitalism reflects all these strengths. * Leon Wansleben, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies, Cologne. * Those of us who have spent time in the worlds of politics and business often struggle to define the differences and overlaps between the two. Joe Zammit-Lucia's book is an impressive attempt to do that. * The Rt Hon Sir Vince Cable, UK Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and President of the Board of Trade, 2010-2015; Professor in Practice, London School of Economics and Political Science. * A must-read for understanding why some companies are leaders and others laggards in leading the customer experience revolution. * Dr Lynn Phillips, Professor of Marketing, Stanford Graduate School of Business, 1983-1996; Managing Director, Reinventures. *