Critical Theory and Corporate Social Responsibility
Book
Overview
abstract
AbstractThis article examines corporate social responsibility (CSR) from the angle of critical theory. It begins by arguing that values shape corporate decisions in three general ways: managerial choices, routines, and reasoning processes; governmental regulation, incentives, tax structures, and oversight; and consumption choices within market systems. It shows that, alone and jointly, these ‘sites’ are fundamentally weak in their capacity to produce greater CSR in the sense of more diverse values and reasoning processes. Institutionalized power relations, various forms of systematically distorted communication, and ideology provide insight into different weaknesses and pitfalls. This article treats ideology as the presence of values embedded in language, routines, practices, and positions that privilege dominant groups which are difficult to identify, discuss, and assess owing to various covering mechanisms. Following this, it turns to exploring communication systems and practices that can provide for a more sustainable, and democratic, CSR.
