Corporate Socialist Responsibility: A New Era for Business Ethics in Xi Jinping’s China

With the historical resolution of 2022, Xi Jinping’s New Era has been cast as the fourth epoch of the CCP. Central to CCP policy since 2012 has been policies focusing on superstructural reform and the negotiation of consent to a state-circumscribed citizenship underpinned by the Core Socialist Values which calls for citizens to demonstrate patriotism, dedication, integrity and amiability in contribution to broader societal and national development goals.

While much analysis of the mediation of the Core Socialist Values has focused on the ideological state apparatus, along with scholarship focusing on coercive policies aimed at forcing compliance with the state vision at China’s periphery – most notably in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong – comparatively little attention has been paid to the role of the private sector in the mediation of consensus to Xi’s vision for China.

This research examines the formation of a powerful third arena of the superstructure in contemporary China: the consumerist state apparatus. Via legislative and regulatory control of the private sector, consumerism in contemporary China is becoming a crucial stage for performative and participatory citizenship.

Through analysis of policy, legislation and regulation, and illustrating with several case studies, this research explores the inversion of conventional theorizing on corporate social responsibility. Unlike in advanced capitalist economies, in Xi Jinping’s China corporate citizens must actively demonstrate and prioritize fealty to the state through displays of politically-framed philanthropic tribute and ethical conformity – or face the risk of legal or regulatory punishment and restrictions on their ability to operate profitably.