The Past, Present and Future of the Corporate Actor: Ontological, Epistemological and Theoretical Considerations

Abstract Corporate actors are more resourceful, more powerful and more capable of influencing their own conditions of action than most other actors. This curated article argues that to imagine the future of corporate actors in a world that is rapidly changing due to the possibilities of digital technology and sustainability challenges, we also need to revisit dominant conceptualizations of the corporate actor in economic or social science research. The four essays included in this article draw on different theories to elaborate on the role that corporate actors play, could play, or should play in the future. The problems that the authors identify in their essays include the power and wrongdoing of corporate actors; the ability of corporate actors to create their environment, not just react to it; the lack of a concept of (corporate) responsibility capable of responding to the desiderata of society; and the accountability of corporate actorhood outside the boundaries of formal organizations. By providing reflections on these problems, this article—written against the background of the historical peculiarities of German business administration research marked by a neglect of collectivist concepts such as corporate actors—shows that research and society actively co-construct the roles and responsibilities of corporate actors. The performativity of theories addressing corporate actors is thus a concern for business administration scholars aiming to contribute to a more sustainable future.