Will Businesses Restore Social Bonds?

In a context of social fragmentation, companies are emerging as key actors. Beyond their economic function and job creation, they are increasingly seeking to generate value beyond their own boundaries by contributing to the vitality of local and national territories.
For example, this commitment is reflected in the rise of corporate foundations: there are now more than 1,500 in France, compared to just a few hundred in the 1990s. Each year, they mobilize several billion euros to support projects of general interest, strengthening ties with local communities.

Rooted in their environment, companies thus contribute to social cohesion by developing partnerships with associations and local stakeholders. Through corporate social responsibility initiatives, they are no longer limited to profit-making, but instead embrace a logic of shared value, attentive to their stakeholders.
But does this evolution represent a lasting transformation? By rethinking their practices, can companies become central actors in social and environmental transitions? And to what extent should public authorities support or shape this dynamic?