Dr. Megan Tracy of James Madison University will use this Small Grant for Exploratory Research to investigate changes in conceptions of accountability and transparency due to the ongoing melamine scandal in China's dairy industry. The project examines, first, how local corporations reassess accountability and transparency as related to the scandal and, second, whether or not this reassessment draws upon or contradicts globally circulating ideas of accountability. This research will contribute to social scientific understanding of standardization, governance and corporations by documenting the specific reactions of Chinese national corporations to the melamine crisis. Due to the transitory nature of crises, this project meets Small Grants for Exploratory Research criteria for the collection of ephemeral data and proof of access. For researchers, the scandal presents singular opportunities to document how China's corporations will move forward in light of this series of crises and to fine-tune theories of transparency, standardization and governance. The research also will inform the global increase in demands for corporations to adopt and implement increased standards and regulations to demonstrate their commitment to global norms of accountability and responsibility.
