Corporate Social Responsibility, Accountability and Governance

This is an intensive compilation of case studies and experiences on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), governance and accountability coming from public and private initiatives across the globe. Most of the case studies share a common denominator which revolves around multi-stakeholder partnerships for sustainable development. Generally, the book offers a multidisciplinary view in its analysis of political, social, economic, and legal structures among others, knitting together complex relationships from different actors of society in developing accountability and governance. The book is divided into five parts and several case studies are presented in each part. In part one, the contributors explore the deficiencies associated with management in the context of CSR and provide case studies from Canada and the UK. This part highlights the concept of governance in the broader context of objectives, processes, systems, and cultures. Part two tackles interdisciplinary CSR theories and concepts and cites examples of corporations that have taken initiatives and committed to seeking solutions for common good. This part points out that mutual accountability among private, public and civil society is a prerequisite to build effective, sustainable and viable partnerships. Part three looks into empirical studies on emerging governance structures and CSR. A contributed article posits that network governance of collective learning processes is an appropriate structure for sustainable development. Additionally, the author argues that governance of sustainability requires innovation and cited the development of wind turbine industries in Europe. Part four deals with corporate governance and its implications for regulators and civil society. Two models of corporate governance were covered – Anglo-American and continental European. The contributor points that the former model is becoming more socially responsible while the latter model tries to achieve the efficiency benchmark set by the former. Examples from the US were cited and examined in the context of the related theoretical framework. The book concludes by dealing with multinational companies (MNCs) and their implications for the new governance structures, regulators and civil society. One contributed paper explores the role of law, government regulation, MNCs and NGOs in addressing various trans-boundary sustainability issues. Furthermore, this part examines the contribution of globalization to the development of international corporate responsibility, particularly the role of MNCs in engaging in partnerships with governments and NGOs, citing the potential role of the World Bank in this scenario. In general, this book compiled the CSR concepts and theories for sustainable development through multidisciplinary approaches in the analysis of corporate responsibility, governance and accountability. It appears highly technical at first, but eventually appeals to the interest of the reader as one continues to flip through its pages. Therefore, this book is a useful addition for the development of knowledge in CSR as emerging discipline. Review by Abner Barnuevo, CSR International

Seeks to explore this "missing link" between Corporate Social Responsibility and governance mechanisms that are capable of embracing true stakeholder accountability. This book provides analysis of the complex relationships between the state, the market and civil society in the development of CSR, accountability and sustainable development.

The "business case" for corporate social responsibility, which suggests that socially and environmentally aware companies can expect to reap financial rewards, is seemingly gaining widespread acceptance within the business community. This is particularly apparent in the ever-increasing number of prominent companies parading their social, ethical and environmental credentials by producing paper- or web-based social and environmental, or sustainability, reports. In so doing, reporting companies claim, they are demonstrating a clear commitment to transparency and accountability to their key stakeholder groups. However, in the prevailing voluntaristic, business-case-centred climate within which such initiatives are taking place, little thought appears to have gone into the question of how stakeholders, other than the capital provider group, can actually use corporate disclosures offered in order to hold management accountable for the social and environmental consequences of their actions. While much corporate rhetoric abounds concerning notions of stakeholder dialogue and engagement, rigorous analysis of the governance implications of their claimed commitment to the principles of corporate social responsibility is largely conspicuous by its absence.

Corporate Social Responsibility, Accountability and Governance seeks to explore this "missing link" between CSR (and associated reporting initiatives) and governance mechanisms that are capable of embracing true stakeholder accountability. A wide range of case studies, drawing on experiences of both public- and private-sector initiatives in Europe, the United States, Canada, South America and Asia, offer insightful analysis of the complex relationships between the state, the market and civil society in the development of CSR, accountability and sustainable development.

The book employs a multidisciplinary perspective in order to analyse the political, social, economic, technological, legal and organisational shaping of CSR. The complexities underpinning the concept are thereby clearly drawn out and the gross oversimplifications inherent in the prevailing consultancy-driven, business-case literature painfully exposed. Above all, the book offers a sound, practically and theoretically informed contribution to public policy debate and reflects and builds on urgent calls from public- and private-sector policy-makers as well as academics to develop better governance and accountability frameworks...