Kingston Business School at Kingston University, United Kingdom
This study explores how power asymmetries affect business-government interactions in the context of large-scale infrastructure projects aimed at addressing sustainable challenges. While existing research has focused on long-term business-government collaborations and their role in shaping sustainable outcomes, there remains a gap in understanding interactions under time-constrained, mandated conditions. Using a longitudinal study of the Thames Tideway Tunnel project in London, we investigate the mechanisms by which power asymmetries emerge and are managed. Our findings reveal how project organizations empowered by national governments interact with local authorities to gain and maintain support. We contribute to the literature by offering a conceptual framework that highlights how managing power asymmetries can enhance social, economic, and environmental outcomes for local communities.
