Corporate Social Responsibility Agenda Research Articles

Multinationals and corporate social responsibility in developing countries: a case study of Nigeria

AbstractCorporate social responsibility (CSR) has a powerful potential to make positive contributions to addressing the needs of disadvantaged communities in developing countries. On the other hand, there are ways in which CSR could, whether by mistake or design, damage the same communities, politically, socially and economically. This paper presents evidence that demonstrates that although there is a good business case for Shell to contribute to poverty alleviation in the Niger Delta, Nigeria, there is also a danger that in the long term Shell could effectively be leading the pace of, and directing the paths to, socio‐economic development in the region with little or no contribution from the Nigerian government. The paper concludes that lack of national macro‐economic planning and management, backed by equitable resource allocation, and an enabling environment, have significant implications for the overall performance of CSR initiatives by multinational corporations (MNCs) in developing countries. In other words, if the macro‐economy is under‐performing due to government failure, there is a likelihood that the contributions of MNCs to poverty alleviation could fail to achieve the desired outcomes. Good governance in all its dimensions is therefore an important component of the CSR agenda. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

Beyond the fence line: corporate social responsibility.

The ability to demonstrate acceptable performance against the expectations of a CSR movement is part of the corporate license to operate in many locations. Because health and medical programs are core elements of these activities, numerous opportunities exist for physicians to contribute to health and prosperity in underdeveloped locations. Individuals who are involved in designing and administrating these activities need to maintain critical objectivity about the actual consequences and maintain a close dialog with the intended beneficiaries. The value of the CSR agenda is beginning a long empirical trial.

Mining, Corporate Social Responsibility and the "Community": The Case of Rio Tinto, Richards Bay Minerals and the Mbonambi

Mining companies have long had a questionable reputation for social responsibility, especially in developing countries. In recent years, mining companies operating in developing countries have come under increased pressure as opponents have placed them under greater public scrutiny. Mining companies have responded by developing global corporate social responsibility strategies as part of their larger global business strategies. In these strategies, a prominent place is given to their relationship with local communities. For business ethics, one basic issue is whether such an approach to corporate responsibility is likely to effectively address the development concerns of local communities in developing countries. This paper addresses this question by investigating how the corporate social responsibility agenda of a major minor company has been implemented by one of its subsidiaries in South Africa.