During the second working lunch of the spring semester, Alicia Hennig discussed her study examining the extent to which business ethics literature has addressed non-democratic regimes to date. After clearly outlining the criteria and methodology used to construct the review, Hennig presented her findings and discussed the possible reasons behind the observed gap at the intersection of business ethics and political science. She further highlighted the relevance of examining how political systems shape and influence corporate responsibility.

Hennig’s presentation was followed by an engaging discussion with the audience, comprising students, doctoral candidates, and several other members of the Institute. The exchange allowed for the exploration of possible interpretations of her findings from multiple perspectives. Hennig also drew on her extensive experience to provide concrete examples of companies operating in authoritarian contexts.

Alicia Hennig is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Security and Development Policy in Stockholm. Her work focuses on business ethics and political science, particularly corporate responsibility in authoritarian contexts such as China. She also advises universities and institutions on research security related to China and has briefed organizations including NATO and the FBI.