Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Question 1

UN Global Compact

Answer 1

a voluntary initiative that encourages corporations to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies

Question 2

Limitations of UN global compact

Answer 2

1. Lack of Compliance Culture
2. Oversimplification of Success
3. Absence of Independent Auditing

Question 3

Limits to the Business Case for Development (CSR)

Answer 3

1. Power to Frame and Solve Problems
   - Asymmetrical Power Dynamics
   - Business Agenda vs. Development Agenda
2. Efficiency Principle in Question
   - Profit vs. Responsibility Conflict
   - Limitations of Voluntary CSR
3. Diversity of Voluntary Codes of Conduct
   - Growing Number of Codes
   - Lack of Oversight and Enforcement

Question 4

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Answer 4

• dynamic and contested term with meanings that vary by context (Blowfield).
• an attempt to reconcile the business agenda with the development agenda, addressing legitimacy crises within the PWCR (Wells).

-CSR reflects the neoclassical economic foundations of the PWCR, particularly the efficiency

Question 5

UN Global Compact and CSR as Legitimization

Answer 5

The UN Global Compact is an example of codes of conduct legitimizing CSR at a global level.

Question 6

Efficiency Principle (Concept Clarification)

Answer 6

rational economic actors can integrate social and environmental considerations while pursuing profit. However, this principle often fails in practice due to conflicting corporate obligations and societal needs.

Question 7

Hard Laws vs. Voluntary CSR

Answer 7

Blowfield and Wells emphasize that binding legal frameworks are critical for holding corporations accountable, as voluntary CSR has shown limitations in effecting systemic change.

Question 8

CSR frames development as:

Answer 8

something achievable through corporate initiatives, sidelining traditional state-led development models.

Question 9

Business Agenda vs. Development Needs

Answer 9

CSR initiatives often prioritize corporate interests, such as reputation management, over addressing systemic poverty and inequality.

The focus is on what is “measurable” (e.g., reduced carbon footprints) rather than transformative social change.

Question 10

Critiques of CSR Effectiveness:

Answer 10

CSR lacks the regulatory frameworks necessary for meaningful change.

Voluntary codes and self-regulation often fail to address deeper structural inequalities.

Question 11

Northern Influence on Labour Standards

Answer 11

International labor standards often reflect Northern agendas and priorities, which may not align with the realities faced by workers in the Global South.

Question 12

Limitations of Top-Down Approaches

Answer 12

Global frameworks, such as codes of conduct and certifications, often fail to address local conditions.

They prioritize compliance with Northern consumer expectations over empowering workers on the ground.

Question 13

Role of Local Worker Struggles:

Answer 13

Local labor movements play a crucial role in improving workplace conditions and securing labor rights.

These struggles are often overshadowed by global CSR initiatives.

Question 14

Critique of CSR

Answer 14

CSR tends to depoliticize labor issues, presenting them as technical problems rather than systemic inequalities.

It often absolves corporations of deeper accountability by focusing on minimal compliance measures.