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Corporate social responsibility: the way forward for development
Includes bibliographical references.
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| Main Author: | |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Department of Sociology
2015
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| _version_ | 1867613277957128192 |
|---|---|
| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Abrahams, Merlinda-Joy |
| author2 | Lincoln, David |
| author_browse | Abrahams, Merlinda-Joy Lincoln, David |
| author_facet | Lincoln, David Abrahams, Merlinda-Joy |
| author_sort | Abrahams, Merlinda-Joy |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Includes bibliographical references. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/13061 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:33:35.758Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2015 |
| publishDateRange | 2015 |
| publishDateSort | 2015 |
| publisher | Department of Sociology |
| publisherStr | Department of Sociology |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/13061 Corporate social responsibility: the way forward for development Abrahams, Merlinda-Joy Lincoln, David Global Studies Includes bibliographical references. With Corporate Social Responsibility coming to prominence over the last few decades, business has become a central player in the sphere of development. The business case for CSR, by far the most dominant argument for CSR, suggests that CSR is the answer to social ills, injustice and poverty, but seeks ways to get a return on their investment and gain a competitive advantage through CSR/CSI activities. Critics have argued that business cannot be counted on to voluntarily contribute to social good - citing the nature of business as the greatest deterrent to positive behaviour. A third stream recognises the potential of CSR but identifies constraints in the present manifestations of CSR and CSI in South Africa, and calls for a more critical engagement of business in society. A fourth approach recognises that due the nature of CSR and the politics that surrounds its practice, CSR can be seen as a type of imperialism, holding the notions of dominance and superiority over their beneficiaries in the South, and not taking into consideration their experiences or feedback. Using the critical case of a large South African petroleum company, this thesis seeks to answer the central research question, “What approach to C SR does Company X take? What underpins this approach? ” This thesis furthermore subscribes to the need for more critical, Southern perspectives that needs to be acknowledged in the CSR rhetoric and argues that political and economic rather than social considerations currently dominate the sphere of CSR. This is further emphasised through the political environment in which CSR takes place. Finally, this paper, argues that the language of CSR in South Africa needs to be rethought. In South Africa, CSR more often than not is interpreted to mean companies’ CSI activities. Using authors such as Fig (2005) and Fig et al, 2007, this thesis argues that wrapped up in the notion of CSI are inherent political considerations that thwart the developmental potential of CSI. 2015-06-15T06:55:19Z 2015-06-15T06:55:19Z 2014 Master Thesis Masters MSocSc http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13061 eng application/pdf Department of Sociology Faculty of Humanities University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Global Studies Abrahams, Merlinda-Joy Corporate social responsibility: the way forward for development |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | Corporate social responsibility: the way forward for development |
| title_full | Corporate social responsibility: the way forward for development |
| title_fullStr | Corporate social responsibility: the way forward for development |
| title_full_unstemmed | Corporate social responsibility: the way forward for development |
| title_short | Corporate social responsibility: the way forward for development |
| title_sort | corporate social responsibility the way forward for development |
| topic | Global Studies |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13061 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT abrahamsmerlindajoy corporatesocialresponsibilitythewayforwardfordevelopment |