Corporate Social Responsibility; The Corporate Governance of the 21st Century

The current theory of corporate social responsibility (CSR) is developing along three interwoven lines moral, social, and environmental. Although everybody recognizes that although CSR is of growing concern in a globalised economy, it being at the top of the board of director s agenda and also good for business, there is no sign of consensus on its rules, structures, or procedures. Now, this collection of essays by leading jurists, businesspeople, and academics takes a giant step toward a more cohesive and durable set of principles that can contribute to a cleaner environment and a better society while respecting and protecting the interests of all stakeholders. The authors approach this complex but critical subject from a variety of perspectives, including the following: • the role of CSR in corporate governance; • the legal enforceability of CSR rules; • the impact of international human rights standards; CSR as part of corporate DNA ; • choice of CSR strategy defensive or offensive; • the need for fair competition between developing country exporters; • the prospects for international social protection for workers; • enforcement of minimal standards in remote locations; • the active search for eco-efficient solutions; • corporate assumption of human rights responsibilities; and • the legal weight of codes of conduct • the role of the lawyer in CSR. In a world where the annual income of the five largest business corporations is more than double the combined GNPs of the 50 poorest countries, the need for meaningful standards of corporate social responsibility should be obvious. The well-informed and considered analyses in this remarkable volume provide an excellent starting point for those anxious to move the agenda forward in this area that, despite the efforts of many companies, often seems so intractable. The book will be of immeasurable value to all professionals and academics in relevant fields of law, policy, and business. Table of contents Foreward; E. Cardenas, Part I. Presentation. 1. Introduction: The Responsibility of Business; R. Mullerat. Part II. General Overview. 2. Business Ethics; R. Thomas. 3. Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Governance; M. Walsh, J. Lowry. 4. The Soul of the Corporation; G. Milward-Oliver. 5. Corporate Social Responsibility and Public Policy; F. Martin. 6. Corporate Social Responsibility in a Changing Corporate World; J.J. Shestack. Part III. The Main Objectives of Corporate Social Responsibility. 7. The Triple Bottom Line: Building Shareholder Value; J.E. Roselle. 8. Labour Standards and Corporate Social Responsibility: The Need for a Planetary Bargain; M. Hopkins, I. Hopkins. 9. Corporate Social Responsibility and the Environment; M. Shoop. 10. Corporate Social Responsibility and Human Rights; J.M. Lozano, M. Prandi. 11. Corporate Social Responsibility and International Human Rights Law; D. Kinley. Part IV. Worldwide Initiatives on Corporate Social Responsibility. 12. The Tripartite Declaration of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises; P.H. Rudolph. 13. The Global Sullivan Principles of Corporate Social Responsibility; P.H. Rudolph. 14. Promoting Corporate Responsibility: The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises; D.J. Johnston. 15. The Global Compact; H. Corell. 16. The United Nations Norms on the Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with Regard to Human Rights; J. Ragnwaldh, P. Konopik. 17. New Recent Worldwide Initiatives on Corporate Governance; D. Brennan. Part V. Regional Perspectives. 18. The European Initiatives; J. Lux, S. Skadegard Thorsen, A. Meisling. 19. The European Perspective; S. Skadegard Thorsen. 20. A Perspective from the Colonies; P.H. Rudolph. 21. The African Perspective; R. Lock. 22. The Japanese Perspective; J. Brumm. 23. Corporate Social Responsibility and Human Rights The Ghana Experience in the Gold Mining Industry; F. Ntrakwah. Part VI. Codes of Conduct. 24. Codes of Conduct The History, Variations, Impact and Future of Self-Regulation; P.H. Rudolph. 25. Some Legal Dimensions of Codes of Conduct; C. Lundblad. Part VII. Lawyers and Corporate Social Responsibility. 26. Social Responsibility and the Lawyer in the 21st Century; J.J. Shestack. 27. Lawyers Responsibility for Advising on Corporate Social Responsibility; J. Goldsmith. 28. Corporate Social Responsibility in Lawyers Firms; R. Taylor, R. Brophy. 29. Corporate Social Responsibility and the In-House Counsel; I. Odeleye. Part VIII. Criticism of the Corporate Social Responsibility Movement. 30. Criticism of the Corporate Social Responsibility Movement; M. Hopkins. Part IX. Some Conclusions. 31. Conclusions; R. Mullerat.