Chaire de recherche du Canada en ÉPI

Université Laval

Can’t buy me love: billionaire entrepreneurs’ legitimation strategies in transnational climate governance

Année: 
Dimanche, Février 26, 2023
Type: 
Articles scientifiques
Thème: 
Réseaux transnationaux
Environnement
Auteur: 
Marielle Papin
Résumé: 

Several billionaires have recently emerged as leaders of climate governance. So far, little research has examined how they legitimize their involvement in climate networks. We argue that billionaire governance entrepreneurs have high levels of resources but low procedural legitimacy. They pursue output legitimacy to support their political action, highlighting their effectiveness in managing climate issues. Their main strategies, depoliticization, outgrouping, and technical solutionism, may give them short-term legitimacy but risk undermining their long-term goals of addressing climate change. We analyze the discursive legitimation strategies of a successful billionaire entrepreneur in transnational climate governance, Michael Bloomberg. Our empirical analysis is based on the study of more than 800 statements, speeches, and news releases related to Bloomberg’s climate action from 2010 to 2021. It contributes to the study of entrepreneurship, leadership, philanthropy, and transnational actors in climate governance.

Référence: 

Papin, M., and P. Beauregard (forthcoming). “Can’t Buy Me Love: Billionaire Entrepreneurs’ Legitimation Strategies in Transnational Climate Governance”, Environmental Politics.