Advocacy for change in government policies is only one arena in which the animal protection movement has waged campaigns. Non-Legislative Targets: Changing Corporate Policies will examine and teach strategies to create change in another key arena for animal advocates: corporations.

Corporations have long been a target for social movements in general and the animal protection movement in particular. Corporations shape the lives and welfare of animals in a variety of ways. Some companies use animals directly—through animal testing, slaughter, captivity, and/or use of their by-products—to produce goods and provide services. Other companies destroy or modify animal habitats in the process of production. Still other companies sponsor and advertise in conjunction with animal use activities.

In this course, we will review different types of strategies, their origins, and their use in the animal protection movement. For each strategy, we will provide “how to” instructions and resources for actions that you can take to change corporate policies. Using case studies of a variety of animal protection and other social movement corporate campaigns, we will highlight some of these lessons. We also will provide “questions to consider” and exercises that allow you to apply the research and action knowledge you gain.

At the conclusion of the course, you will:

• Know the history of social movement campaigns targeted at corporations;

• Be familiar with a wide range of animal protection campaigns to change corporate policies;

• Develop skills in researching corporate structure, policies, and products;

• Gain insights about the relationship between corporations, the public, social movements, and the political arena;

• Be able to identify the factors that facilitate and constrain the success of shareholder resolutions, boycotts, and other strategies to influence corporate behavior; and

• Be able to critically evaluate campaigns and strategies to affect corporate policies.

Developed by Jennifer Jackman, Ph.D., M.S.