The Planetary Bargain: Corporate Social Responsibility Matters

Description

Corporate scandals and lack of confidence in our largest institutions mean that corporate social responsibility (CSR) now matters more than ever. Encroaching on CSR are concepts such as corporate sustainability and corporate citizenship, and older concerns with business ethics, business in society and the ethical corporation. This significantly revised and updated version of The Planetary Bargain explains the relations among these concepts and reflects the author's new ideas and their new context. Enterprises across the world are waking up to the need for social responsibility towards shareholders and potential investors, managers and other employees, customers, business partners and contractors or suppliers, the natural environment and the communities within which they operate, including national governments and non-governmental organizations. Drawing on case studies of international companies and analysis of research from the past two decades, The Planetary Bargain shows how corporations can preserve their profitability while treating all stakeholders ethically and responsibly. It suggests a cooperative CSR strategy which creates prosperity for corporations and for the people they serve. It presents the case for a worldwide agreement, or 'planetary bargain', between private and public sectors, arguing that it is good for business and essential for future prosperity and stability.

Michael Hopkins is Managing Director of MHC International and Professor and Chair of the International Centre for Business Performance and Corporate Responsibility at Middlesex University Business School, London, UK.

A very practical and comprehensive update on CSR.' Balance Sheet 'This interesting book takes a broad approach to examining corporate social responsibility in both its conceptual framework and the practical case studies it considers.' International Labour Review 'It is very informative and also a good read.' Stephanie Draper, The Industrial Society 'A most stimulating read.' Kay Sexton, AccountAbility, UK 'The Planetary Bargain is [Hopkins'] vision for a world where big companies shoulder a responsibility for society that is simultaneously being offloaded by the public sector.' Hendon Times 'Essential reading for those concerned with CSR and its development as well as being an introduction for the general reader.' Scientific and Medical Network Review