[Corporations] FW: REVIEW OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ARGUES THAT IT IS TIME FOR CSR 'TO GROW UP OR FADE AWAY'

[Mike Spears]

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From: Greenleaf Books <books at greenleaf-publishing.com>
Reply-To: books at greenleaf-publishing.com
Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2004 04:27:42 GMT
Subject: REVIEW OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ARGUES THAT IT IS TIME
FOR CSR 'TO GROW UP OR FADE AWAY'

A review of corporate social responsibility (CSR) during 2003, written by a
group of leading academics and practitioners in the field, argues that it is
time for CSR "to grow up or fade away."

Supported by the New Academy of Business and Greenleaf Publishing the 2003
Lifeworth Annual Review of Corporate Responsibility (at www.lifeworth.net)
combines writing from the premiere academic publication in the field, the
Journal of Corporate Citizenship. Lead author Dr Jem Bendell, says "people
are becoming increasingly disheartened with CSR initiatives, as they're
often used to promote an ideological agenda that gets big business and
government off the hook for the state of the world. Christian Aid's recent
report shows that major NGOs are turning against CSR. It's time for CSR to
grow up and address the systemic problems with globalisation, or fade away
into irrelevance."

This year's Annual Review looks at systemic issues, and therefore "could
help us in exploring a future agenda for CSR that would be truly
transformative" says Dr. David Murphy, Director of the New Academy of
Business, and co-editor of a new book on trust in corporations, "Something
to Believe In". Issues examined include the lobbying influence and
tax-avoidance strategies of large corporations, as well as the
responsibility of corporations for war and poverty. The Review suggests that
issues like corporate tax dodging, which cost Europe about GBP100 bn a year
and the developing world well over USD50bn a year, must become central to
our understanding of CSR. Suggestions are made for a new approach to CSR
reporting, that would focus on quantifiable measures of the costs and
benefits of corporate activity.

The debate over deregulation and regulation for corporate accountability is
examined, and legal challenges to business analysed - from the ethics-based
litigation in South Africa to anti-competitive strategies, the definition of
commercial speech to news from the International Criminal Court in The
Hague. The role of the UN is also heavily featured - from an exploration of
the work of the International Labour Organisation for supporting health and
safety in micro-enterprises to the contribution of its trade and development
arm UNCTAD, and conflicting opinions about the role of private sector
partnerships in the work of the UN. In addition, the review explores debates
within academic fields of economics and development, management education,
leadership and business ethics that are relevant to a broader understanding
of corporate responsibility.

The Review was co-authored and sponsored by the New Academy of Business. The
New Academy is an independent business school and charity that supports
enterprise through education and research (www.new-academy.ac.uk). As a
career and headhunting agency specialising in the field of CSR, Lifeworth
publishes the reviews to promote a more informed CSR profession. The reviews
"bridge the gap between the practical and intellectual, helping us with the
insight to promote business's contribution to sustainable development,"
believes Richard Sandbrook, a senior advisor to the UN Global Compact. The
Review is also supported by Greenleaf Publishing, who publish the Journal of
Corporate Citizenship, every quarter. Subscription rates for organisations
are GBP150/US$250 for one year (four issues) and for individuals
GBP75/US$125 but savings of up to 30% are available for new subscribers.
(Email: sales at greenleaf-publishing.com or order from website
http://www.greenleaf-publishing.com/jcc/jcch!
ome.htm )

The Lifeworth Annual Review can be accessed at www.lifeworth.net

The Christian Aid report mentioned above can be accessed at:
www.christianaid.org.uk/indepth/0401csr/index.htm

The new book mentioned above, "Something to Believe In. Creating Trust and
Hope in Organisations: Stories of Transparency, Accountability and
Governance" is edited by Rupesh A. Shah, David F. Murphy and Malcolm
McIntosh, and can be ordered in either paperback or hardback via
www.greenleaf-publishing.com/catalogue/stbi.htm





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