Corporate Social Responsibility by Stephen Vertigans & Samuel O. Idowu

Author:Stephen Vertigans & Samuel O. Idowu
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Springer International Publishing, Cham

6.5 A Sociological Analysis of CSR Contestation

Why does this matter? What can be learnt from identifying and understanding these conflicting agendas? From a sociological perspective, CSR as both a field of practice and as a type of discourse merits analysis because of what this can tell us about changing relations of power and their impact on societal expectations of business and governance . It is vital to go beyond questions of whether CSR is purely marketing, to examine how the terms of debate are being set regarding ideas about responsibility in the global economy. The three dimensional approach to analysing CSR provides a framework for this investigation. The resulting categorisation of CSR agendas (summarised in Table 6.1), indicates that the meaning of CSR is not only being shaped by corporate voices. Other actors are putting significant efforts into mobilising CSR to question, oppose and shape policies and practices.

Investigating this contestation is important for understanding changing relationships between workers, communities, corporations and those who attempt to regulate them. Only by knowing what factors impact these relationships, is it possible to move the CSR field forward. A sociological analysis helps to situate the CSR battlefield within a broader context of social change in an era of globalisation . Examples of where the interests of sociologists are directly relevant to conflicting CSR agendas, include the growth of transnational corporations at a time when elements of state power are in decline or threatened; the practices and processes involved in professionalisation; and the rise and challenges faced by global civil society . As part of a multi-disciplinary approach then, sociological traditions can be drawn on to deepen understanding of how CSR is developing and the battles being fought to influence this. The contestation needs to be addressed as it draws energy away from and creates barriers to sustainable change. This is not only a theoretical issue as it relates to the key business-society relationship , but a practical one too, because what is promoted as the dominant form of CSR has consequences for the lived experiences of workers and communities worldwide. Indeed, as Sklair and Miller (2010) demonstrate that corporations are extending CSR activities to ever more spheres of activity, including development and policy arenas, the need to address this becomes ever more urgent.

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