Jeremy Corbyn and the challenge to marketers

Corbyn’s philosophy is a challenge to existing marketing thinking, which for the most part is based on the innate selfishness of individuals, as opposed to behaviour undertaken for the ‘general good’.

In fact the whole modern capitalist post-Thatcher system is based on the ‘greed is good’ motto of the movie Wall Street.

Corbyn has been elected on a rising tide of disaffection with social values based on this, fuelled by a general recession and social media.

This has profound implications for us as marketers, as we seek to maximise profit out of a dynamic and changing marketplace. How do we respond?

Well I’m sure we all have our own ideas, but you could come and hear the great marketing guru Kotler speak on this very subject, exclusively to the Levitt Group (part of CIM), on September 30th, in London W1.

He’s just published his latest book, ‘Confronting Capitalism’, and it couldn’t be at a better time. It’ll be a great privilege to hear him discuss the points he raises – there’s no-one better qualified in the world of marketing than the great Theo Levitt himself.

You can book here and be sure that you will then be armed with the marketer’s viewpoint of the inevitable debate which will take place over the next few years.

But even if you can’t get to the event, I urge you to read his book – we need to have the arguments clear in our heads, so when our colleagues in the boardroom question our strategies, we have the answers.

The battle lines are drawn, the two sides are sharpening their arguments, so be sure you are clear on your position as a professional marketer!