CPR-Forum 2026 – The Power of Alliances

On Friday June 5th, our third CPR Forum took place at the European Academy Berlin. Together with 55 representatives from politics, business and civil society, we discussed the conditions under which corporate political responsibility succeeds – and, above all, how alliances can amplify the clout of companies. We would like to thank all panelists and participants for their insightful contributions, the European Academy Berlin for its hospitality, and our sponsors Deloitte and the Gemeinnützige Hertie-Stiftung for their support!

Fighting jointly and purposefully for socio-political causes is anything but trivial: organizing that power demands professional coordination. Why this matters, becomes clear when we look to the United States, where many of the CEOs who like to speak of leadership, attitude and values now prostrate themselves before Trump in anticipatory obedience. Even in the world's oldest democracy, executives fail to join forces and stand up to this madness. We face comparable challenges, not least in view of the elections in eastern Germany and should therefore leverage the potential of companies far more systematically.

A first step has already been taken: appeals and campaigns ahead of the European and federal elections, calls to join pro-democracy demonstrations, full-page advertisements with walls of company logos. These "alliances of a kind" are admirable – but they remain too superficial and too short-term. In the long run, it makes no sense for companies to hide behind other people's logos.

This is why the second step must follow now: making political engagement permanent – through robust measures, and across as many companies as possible. Here a particular strength of the CPR concept comes into play. Commitment begins with a "tone from the top" (CEO activism) and the involvement of the workforce (employee activism): it mobilizes the relevant parts of the organization and sets clear priorities. In a political branding process, companies can systematically develop a political guiding principle that fits their overall brand, in line with their strengths and resources. Crucially – and this was strongly emphasized at the forum – they must then walk the talk: an attitude only carries weight once it is filled, lastingly, with concrete activities that strengthen our democracy. A guiding principle that is announced but not lived erodes credibility; it is the follow-through that earns it. From attitude to sustained action. At a time when public trust in institutions is fading, companies remain one of the places people still trust in – and one where different backgrounds genuinely meet. That makes it an ideal space to learn from one another and to strengthen our democracy from within.

For Europe's democratic self-assertion – our "project of destiny" – we need companies that not only understand CPR but live it, day after day.

The day was a genuine source of encouragement: serious and passionate contributions, carried by a thoroughly constructive and positive spirit.

Democracy does not defend itself – and companies are among its most underestimated allies. It is time they claimed that role.