Exploring Political Corporate Social Responsibility in Global Supply Chains

Abstract

Businesses increasingly assume political roles, despite issues of legitimacy. The presented two case studies illustrate how businesses harness their political influence in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices through collaboration and dialog with stakeholders and civil society actors. These cases are set around issues arising in global supply chains in sourcing activities where the core problem is associated with businesses managing extended responsibilities under conflicting institutional conditions. The article seeks to provide empirical examples of Political CSR and illustrates the role of deliberative democracy in contemporary business behavior. It adopts a Western business perspective, more specifically from an end-producer and retailer’s standpoint. Findings suggest that civil society is influential in driving these businesses to act responsibly. Joint collaboration is understood as key to strive toward holistic solutions. Political CSR theory remains an ideal, but offers fruitful grounds for speculating on what the political role of business is or could be and how this translates into pragmatic implications for businesses.

Keywords

Conflict minerals; Deliberative; democracy; Ethical sourcing; Globalization; International business; Legitimacy; Multistakeholder initiative, Self-regulation, Tiger shrimp

Published in

Journal of Business Ethics
2014, volume: 125, number: 4, pages: 581-599

SLU Authors

• Aldberg, Julia

  • Department of Economics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Airike, Peppi-Emilia

  • Department of Economics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Mark-Herbert, Cecilia

  • Department of Economics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Global goals (SDG)

SDG8 Decent work and economic growth
SDG12 Responsible consumption and production
SDG16 Peace, justice and strong institutions

UKÄ Subject classification

Globalization Studies
Business Administration

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-013-1927-4

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/50669