Killing Me Softly With Your Corporate Social Irresponsibility: Tobacco Industry and Its So-Called Corporate Social Responsibility

Abstract

It is more and more common that tobacco companies in the world and Indonesia are portraying themselves as good corporate citizens and engaging in so-called “corporate social responsibility” activities, such as sponsorship of educational programs, sports events, art and cultural performances, community projects and philanthropy. These ”socially responsible” activities are very effective in improving public perceptions of the tobacco industry, creating good impressions among influential groups such as policy-makers, academicians and journalists/media, and serving as brand loyalty promotion and strengthening corporate reputation. However, these activities are actually intended as corporate political interference to influence members of society, government officials, parliament members, and the judicative judges to influence policy/regulation development and preventing government and parliament not to regulate tobacco use which will reduce their sales. This study will explicate what CSR really is and why tobacco companies’ CSR activities do not meet the criteria of real CSR.