The Prospect of Societal Duties in Motorsport_25_03_02_15_34_43

Introduction to Social Responsibility in Motorsport

• 21st-century sport increasingly seen as a platform for social responsibility.

• Fédération Internationale l’Automobile (FIA) undergoing a shift in institutional logic:

  • Old logic: sport-focused, managing competition rules.

  • New logic: integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) responsibilities.

• Tension arises from FIA being a hybrid organization blending private, public, and civil sectors.

• Concept of "organizational emulsion" helps describe the blending of various organizational logics.

Changing Expectations and Logics

• FIA focuses on sustainability but remains low on human rights engagement.

• FIA Environmental Strategy 2020–2030 aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• Balancing commitments to climate action while addressing human rights remains a challenge.

• FIA President comments on separating political issues from FIA's role, highlighting an ongoing debate.

Institutional Logics and Responsibility

• Increasing complexity in aligning FIA's sporting logic with ESG commitments.

• Hybrid organizations may experience:

  • Goal incongruence.

  • Competing institutional logics.

• FIA operates as a political organization, balancing statements, decisions, and actions against societal demands.

Examples of Organizational Hypocrisy

• FIA engages in environmental initiatives while hosting races in regions with poor human rights records.

• Concept of "organized hypocrisy" illustrates how organizations navigate conflicting logics.

Case Study: Bahrain Grand Prix

• Bahrain Grand Prix as a megasporting event presents challenges in human rights compliance.

• Existence of a fractured responsibility structure complicates accountability for human rights issues.

  • National race organizer, FIA, and Formula 1 each hold different responsibilities.

• Historical context of human rights issues during the F1 events illustrates complex interplay of stakeholders.

Recommendations for FIA

• Improve integration of human rights considerations into event hosting guidelines.

• Include human rights protocols similar to other sports organizations (e.g., IOC, FIFA).

• Explore organizational design adjustments to enhance credibility in social commitments.

• Acknowledge global differences in stakeholder relations to enhance human rights and ESG performance.

Conclusion

• FIA must refine its processes to avoid organizational hypocrisy and better fulfill social responsibilities.

• Need for clearer recognition of institutional duties within hybrids to respond to societal expectations effectively.