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‘POLITICAL CSR’ AND THE LIMITS OF DELIBERATIVE DEMOCRACY
Edward, Peter Willmott, Hugh
Edward, Peter
Willmott, Hugh
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political_CSR_83.pdf
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Abstract
It has been argued that globalisation is changing the historical relationship between corporations and society (Scherer & Palazzo, 2008). As globalisation undermines the relative autonomy of governments, and reconfigures commercial networks and practices, traditional understandings of corporations, in which they are regarded as essentially economic institutions distinct and separate from the political sphere, are becoming less credible and relevant. The liberal democratic notion that governments collate, adjudicate and represent the interests of citizens, which are then transposed onto corporations through their effective regulation, is increasingly supplanted by an acknowledgment that doing business is, in and of itself, a form of political action. Increasingly, this is not limited to a recognition of the socially and ecologically impactful consequences of business. Rather, it extends to a growing acknowledgement of how the conditions of possibility of ‘doing business’ are themselves socially and politically contingent. Thus, ‘business action’ is inseparable from ‘political action’. In turn, this suggests that a new theory of the firm is required. Specifically, in the context of today’s post-Westphalian order or post-national constellation, it has been argued that ‘political CSR’ (Scherer & Palazzo, 2011; Scherer & Palazzo, 2007) can effectively articulate (and promote) such an understanding. We welcome this intervention because we believe that the idea of ‘political CSR’ may be a useful motivator for political action. However, we question whether this idea can ultimately provide an adequate basis for advancing a credible theory of the role of business in society. A more persuasive approach to this crucial issue, we submit, is provided by post-foundationalist thinking. To support this claim, we revisit cases commended by advocates for ‘political CSR’ to show how our preferred alternative approach offers a less problematical way of analysing and understanding the issues raised by them.
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2012
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With permission of the license/copyright holder