Corporate Social Responsibility or “CSR” is an important agenda that is emerging across the Australian business community following in the footsteps of the US, UK and Europe. Current CSR discussion is directed by the realization of the enormity of the social issues being faced on a world scale. Demarcations about responsibility between governments, corporations and the community/civil society have been a prominent part of the debate.
A consensus appears to be developing that all sectors must work together and find a way to share responsibilities if there is to be a reasonable prospect of addressing the social issues presented. An organization that embraces the principles of CSR is likely to have management support and willingness to promote the CSR vision. It is also likely to have communicated the vision throughout the organization, with employees understanding and working towards that vision on all levels.
To identify sustainability challenges and requirements, these organizations engage with both employees and external stakeholders and actively assess the social impact surrounding all decisions (Zadek, 2001). The culture within the organization will share the CSR commitment and exhibit values such as responsibility, trust, respect, social equity and a resolve to build social capital. Performance is regularly reviewed and progress towards goals is monitored. This is demonstrated through accountability processes such as public sustainability reporting.
The central claim of this paper is that such accounts of corporate power overlook a key source of that influence. Specifically, the things the business community does in the name of corporate social responsibility (CSR) – the social, environmental, and philanthropic activities it undertakes apart from its strictly economic and political activities – are politically relevant enterprises that help business advance its interests in the political process (Cannon, 1994).
The term 'corporate social responsibility' (CSR) refers to ethical, legal and philanthropic behavior in the workplace....
