Living downwind from corporate social responsibility: a community perspective on corporate practice

This paper critiques dominant corporate social responsibility (CSR) theory, which claims that commercial and social goals overlap and coincide. It is suggested that this uncritical portrayal and treatment of complex industry–community relations risks neglecting the potential tensions that may arise...

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Main Authors: Brueckner, Martin, Mamun, M.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2010
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/39637
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author Brueckner, Martin
Mamun, M.
author_facet Brueckner, Martin
Mamun, M.
author_sort Brueckner, Martin
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description This paper critiques dominant corporate social responsibility (CSR) theory, which claims that commercial and social goals overlap and coincide. It is suggested that this uncritical portrayal and treatment of complex industry–community relations risks neglecting the potential tensions that may arise should these goals diverge or be in conflict. In this context, the experiences of residents in a small Western Australian town are presented to describe a long-running conflict between community members and their corporate neighbour. The data point to a range of community impacts as a result of corporate activities and unearth strong differences between ‘local’ and ‘corporate’ understandings of CSR. Based on the perceived shortcomings of an economically underpinned CSR approach, we question the possibility of meeting local needs by means of economic efficiency. Calls are made for critical reflection on the key assumptions underlying dominant CSR theory and consideration is given to questions of guidance for CSR practitioners.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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publishDate 2010
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-396372018-03-29T09:07:46Z Living downwind from corporate social responsibility: a community perspective on corporate practice Brueckner, Martin Mamun, M. This paper critiques dominant corporate social responsibility (CSR) theory, which claims that commercial and social goals overlap and coincide. It is suggested that this uncritical portrayal and treatment of complex industry–community relations risks neglecting the potential tensions that may arise should these goals diverge or be in conflict. In this context, the experiences of residents in a small Western Australian town are presented to describe a long-running conflict between community members and their corporate neighbour. The data point to a range of community impacts as a result of corporate activities and unearth strong differences between ‘local’ and ‘corporate’ understandings of CSR. Based on the perceived shortcomings of an economically underpinned CSR approach, we question the possibility of meeting local needs by means of economic efficiency. Calls are made for critical reflection on the key assumptions underlying dominant CSR theory and consideration is given to questions of guidance for CSR practitioners. 2010 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/39637 10.1111/j.1467-8608.2010.01597.x Blackwell Publishing Ltd restricted
spellingShingle Brueckner, Martin
Mamun, M.
Living downwind from corporate social responsibility: a community perspective on corporate practice
title Living downwind from corporate social responsibility: a community perspective on corporate practice
title_full Living downwind from corporate social responsibility: a community perspective on corporate practice
title_fullStr Living downwind from corporate social responsibility: a community perspective on corporate practice
title_full_unstemmed Living downwind from corporate social responsibility: a community perspective on corporate practice
title_short Living downwind from corporate social responsibility: a community perspective on corporate practice
title_sort living downwind from corporate social responsibility: a community perspective on corporate practice
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/39637