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When corporations rule the world
Abstract
We humans live by stories, says David Korten, and the stories that now govern our society set us on a path to certain self-destruction. In this profound new book, Korten shares the results of his search for a story that reflects the fullness of human knowledge and understanding and provides a guide to action adequate to the needs of our time. Korten calls our current story Sacred Money and Markets. Money, it tells us, is the measure of all worth and the source of all happiness. Earth is simply a source of raw materials. Inequality and environmental destruction are unfortunate but unavoidable. Although many recognize that this story promotes bad ethics, bad science, and bad economics, it will remain our guiding story until replaced by one that aligns with our deepest understanding of the universe and our relationship to it. To guide our path to a viable human future, Korten offers a Sacred Life and Living Earth story grounded in a cosmology that affirms we are living beings born of a living Earth itself born of a living universe. Our health and well-being depend on an economy that works in partnership with the processes by which Earth's community of life maintains the conditions of its own existence - and ours. Offering a hopeful vision, Korten lays out the transformative impact adopting this story will have on every aspect of human life and society.
... Giant corporations are passionate market agents capable of spreading their intra-company mechanism beyond their borders and adjusting the market mechanism itself both within national borders and beyond them 4 [Korten, 2002]. They are capable of integrating assets both in the form of natural integration (capital accumulation) and in various types of incomplete and quasi-integration of assets. ...
... 3 According to V.P. Tretyak, "active firms have the ability to influence the behavior of actors in a given market, the industry market mechanism, while passive participants in the market game traditionally depend on the market mechanism for redistributing resources" [Tretyak, 2011, p. 26]. 4 D. Korten points out that "corporations have emerged as the dominant governance institutions on the planet, with the largest among them reaching into virtually every country of the world and exceeding most governments in size and power (emphasis added - V. T., V. S.)" [Korten, 2002]. ...
... It is known that "...the corporations of those days were granted their charter from the crown and acted as an extension of the power of the crown. In general, these corporations were granted monopoly rights to territories and industries that were of strategic importance for the English state" [Korten, 2002]. "The corporate charter represented a grant from the crown that limited an investor's liability for losses of the corporation to the amount of his or her investment in ita right not extended to individual citizens. ...
The article proposes to test the hypothesis that it is the market power of giant corporations that forms the basis of the global deep state. Therefore, it is not States, but corporations themselves, that are the driver of reducing the sovereignty of states. The latter is often only a personification of the exercise of corporate power.
... Making stakeholder interests part of business decision-making and operations presumes strong stakeholder representation and the political accountability of corporate leaders. However, if corporations and vested interest in the form of stakeholders/lobbies significantly influence the public and political spheres (Kroll and Edinger-Schons 2023), up to the formation of consensus, political parties 2 , and the expression of the vote, the process is inverted 3 , so that the elected are responsible to the top leaders (Korten 2015). In fact, as reported by many outlets, corporations control policymakers in liberal democracies 4 . ...
... This opens up the issue of corporate power in society due to the lack of legitimization (legitimacy gap) and highlights a potential divergence between corporate resource allocation and the needs and preferences of the public (social issues gap) Kroll and Edinger-Schons (2023). Thus, for Korten (2015) "corporations themselves, as nonhuman legal entities created to serve the public interest, have no place using their resources to influence the processes by which citizens define the public interest and set the rules of corporate conduct. Corporations are not people. ...
... 3 "No real person can begin to match the political resources that a large corporation is able to amass in its own behalf. Corporations may lack the right to vote, but that is a minor inconvenience, given their ability to mobilize hundreds of thousands of votes from among their workers, suppliers, dealers, customers, and the public" (Korten 2015). 4 "Something is out of balance in Washington. ...
This analysis explores the dynamics of ESG (Environmental, Social, & Governance) practices, stakeholder democracy, and social responsibility in the contemporary business landscape. Examining the transformative potential of ESG practices, the paper addresses skepticism, emphasizesautonomy in decision-making, and scrutinizes the influence of the business community in politics. It also delves into challenges in liberal democracies, complexities in establishing ESG’s financial impact, and potential drawbacks like greenwashing.
Recognizing ESG’s evolution, the study concludes by advocating for a more pragmatic and democratic approach to shaping public policy.
... The thrust of enhancing personal freedom and liberation initiated by Freud was justified when family and community traditions were blatantly oppressive. Today, when individualism has eroded communities, the morality of such a position has to be challenged (Korten, 1995;Sandel, 1996). By neglecting the social domain, the traditional approach faces two major risks. ...
... Once people overcome the myth that existing social arrangements are immutable, they are in a position to question power structures that interfere with the pursuit of fundamental values for everyone, rather than just for those who benefit from privilege and comfort. A critical analysis of who benefits from current social conditions, and at whose expense, is the first step in overcoming oppression (Korten, 1995;Macedo, 1994). This analysis is highly relevant to psy-chologicaI well-being, for psychological problems do not exist in isolation from societal structures of power (Gil, 1996;I. ...
... Oppression happens at the intrapersonal, interpersonal, social, national, and international levels. Depending on the context, various psychological and political forces act to enforce oppressive measures and to subjugate people (Korten, 1995;I. Prilleltensky & Gonick, 1996). ...
Despite an increased awareness concerning the role of values in psychology, psychologists lack clear guidelines to appraise the moral implications of their work. To address this discrepancy, the author proposes a framework for examining the moral dimensions of psychological discourse and practice. The framework contains 3 central elements: values, assumptions, and practices. These components may be used to articulate and to challenge the ethical, social, and political implications of theories and practices. To illustrate its applicability, the framework is used to evaluate the moral propositions of traditional, empowering, postmodern, and emancipatory communitarian approaches. The author concludes with a vision for addressing the shortcomings of predominant models by proposing for psychology an emancipatory communitarian approach that promotes the emancipation of vulnerable individuals and that fosters a balance among the values of self-determination, caring and compassion, collaboration and democratic participation, human diversity, and distributive justice.
... Mientras que el mercado es el mecanismo de organización dominante, algunas organizaciones como las jerarquías son posiblemente superiores a los acuerdos de mercado porque ahorran costes (Coase, 1937;Kahneman, Knetsch, & Thaler, 1990). El ejemplo más destacado es la corporación, concebida como entidad jurídica de responsabilidad limitada ante el público (Korten, 1998). En el paradigma economicista, no importan las demás personas y la sociedad; se les dan por supuestas o se les ignoran, ya que los gerentes tienen que enfocarse en el valor para el accionista según los mecanismos de gerencia empresarial (Carroll, 1999;Hoffman, 2007). ...
... La mayoría de los lideres empresariales operan dentro de este paradigma economicista (Korten, 1998(Korten, , 2007(Korten, , 2015Wilson, Ostrom, & Cox, 2013). La narrativa dominante del éxito les obliga hacerlo, aunque no lo prefieran personalmente (Sisodia & Gelb, 2019). ...
... Daly and Cobb (1989) look to a combination of strong sustainability with market modification to include social and environmental costs. Korten (1996) believes that the global corporations and the international agencies such as the World Bank and IMF need to be controlled so that capitalism is able to protect the environment and raise living standards for all. ...
Проведён анализ существующих подходов к раскрытию экономического содержания дефиниции устойчивое развитие сельских территорий в отечественной и зарубежной практике. Обоснован авторский подход к оценке устойчивого развития сельских территорий, предусматривающий расчёт комплексного интегрального показателя по трём составляющим устойчивого развития (экономическое, социальное, экологическое). С учётом предлагаемой авторами методики проведён анализ устойчивого развития сельских территорий субъектов Российской Федерации.
Introduction. In the context of increasing global economic instability, it is important to achieve the sustainable development of the country and its regions. Socioeconomic effectiveness of the development of the country as a whole is largely determined with the sustainable development of its rural areas. In the face of new global risks and opportunities, rural areas become the most important economic and demographic component of any state. The goal of the study is to develop a methodological approach to assess the sustainable development of rural areas.Results. The analysis of the existing approaches to the disclosure of economic content of definition sustainable development of rural areas in domestic and foreign practice was carried out. The authors substantiate a methodical approach to the assessment of sustainable development of rural areas which includes four consecutive stages. The analysis of the sustainable development of rural areas in the federal districts of the Russian Federation was conducted. As a tool for assessing the sustainable development of rural areas of the federal districts of Russia, a comprehensive integrated indicator of sustainable development is taken. It is used as a geometric mean of particular indicators (social, economic and environmental). Conclusion. The proposed methodology for assessing the sustainable development of rural areas can not only determine the level of their sustainable development in general, but also makes it possible to assess the level of sustainability of a certain area (economic, social, environmental) and assess the factors affecting the sustainable development of rural areas in dynamics. The results of the assessment of the factors determining the sustainability of the development of rural areas are necessary for the development by the government authorities of the relevant measures and programs for their further development.
... He (2006) explored the "Pollution Haven Hypothesis", finding that stringent environmental regulations modestly deter foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in China. Multinational enterprises (MNEs) often relocate operations to regions with lower regulatory compliance costs, exacerbating the "race to the bottom" (Vernon, 1992;Korten, 1995). ...
This study examines the impact of Green Policy Announcements (GPAs) on sectoral stock returns in the Vietnamese stock market using event study methodology. Environmental sustainability has become a critical issue globally, and Vietnam is no exception. As the country experiences rapid economic growth, it faces significant environmental challenges, including increased pollution and climate change impacts. The Vietnamese government has implemented various green policies to address these challenges. Using data from 737 firms listed on the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) and Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HSX), the study investigates the effects of 20 GPAs issued between 2012 and 2022. Findings reveal significant sectoral impacts on returns, volatility, and trading volume, with notable sensitivity in the Construction & Materials and Real Estate sectors. These results suggest that green policies reduce investor uncertainty in these sectors, reflecting their importance in Vietnam's environmental policy landscape. Findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, managers and investors, highlighting the need for tailored approaches to support the transition to a greener economy. In addition, this study highlights significant sector-specific responses to Green Policy Announcements (GPAs) in Vietnam, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions in heavily polluting sectors like Construction & Materials and Chemicals. It underscores the importance of incentivizing green finance, enhancing regulatory transparency, and leveraging stock market responses to refine policy effectiveness.
... • forests, biodiversity, water, and other ecological commons turn into commodities, which leads to the aggravation of all environmental problems • forced migration due to increasing social inequality, environmental destruction, overexploitation of commons, and climate change leads to more restricted immigration laws, "homeland security" laws, and citizen control (Korten, 1995;Monbiot, 2014;Wallach & Sforza, 1999) ...
The working paper suggests the EU to take the lead in introducing a new model for world trade: Ethical Trade which is trade contributing to the Common Good. It is suggested to embed world trade in the framework of the United Nations. By implementing a United Nations Ethical Trade Zone globally shared values will be promoted. Ethical trade considers trade as a means at the service of the actual goals: sustainable economic development, human and labour rights, food sovereignty, climate and biodiversity protection, tax justice and fair distribution, cultural diversity, gender justice, and peaceful international cooperation.
... • forests, biodiversity, water, and other ecological commons turn into commodities, which leads to the aggravation of all environmental problems • forced migration due to increasing social inequality, environmental destruction, overexploitation of commons, and climate change leads to more restricted immigration laws, "homeland security" laws, and citizen control (Korten, 1995;Monbiot, 2014;Wallach & Sforza, 1999) ...
This Working Paper suggests a new global trade order: "Ethical World Trade" is an alternative to both: free trade and (neo-)protectionism or economic geopolitics. It migrates the rule system for trade under the umbrella of the UN and turns trade into a means at the service of the UN's goals: peace, human rights, democracy, sustainable development. It is proposed that the EU changes its trade strategy and initiates this global ethical trade order.
... These celebrations have included a variety of forms and interpretations of the paradigm, including market-based liberal democracy (e.g., Fukuyama, 1992;Coyle, 2001;Reno, 2013). However, the "victory" of this paradigm has not been universally celebrated (Korten, 1995(Korten, , 2010Marks, 1997;Klein, 2008Klein, , 2014Posner, 2009;Nixon, 2011;Sarkar, 2012). ...
... These scholars also recognized, however, that globalization in economic, political, and social processes were inescapable and overwhelming. During those years, many schol ars addressed the process of globalization, including those who criticized its consequences (Albrow, 1996;Gray, 1999) and those who tried to understand its impact economically, socially (Castells, 1998), and at the national level (Strange, 1996;Korten, 2015), as well as its cultural impacts (García Canclini, 1995;Gid dens, 1999). Decades later, David Hesmondhalgh and Baker (2013) addressed the global cultural processes as cultural internationalization to avoid the contradic tions and ambivalence of globalization and cultural imperialism, and they pro posed a focus in three main aspects: internationalization of cultural businesses; internationalization of cultural texts; and the local as increasingly affected by the global (277). ...
... Frank Draper (1993) describes it as the capability of seeing the world as a multifaceted system in which all components are connected to one another. According to Korten (1995), systems thinking demands a willingness to seek out connections between problems and events. It supports the understanding of the processes included in the whole (Bunge, 2000) and the understanding of one's own role from a holistic perspective. ...
Systems thinking is considered an important skill when teaching biology and sustainable development in the 21st century. The key to understanding biodiversity and thus sustainability in biology is understanding reproduction as a phenomenon. The aim of this study is to analyse student teachers' systems thinking levels regarding sustainability in connection with reproduction, biodiversity and sustainable development. Second-year primary school student teachers from one Finnish university (N = 174) answered in a questionnaire , and their open-ended answers were categorized using content analysis. The results indicate that most of the student teachers had a relatively low level of systems thinking concerning sustainable development and its relation to the concepts of biodiversity and reproduction. The study also showed that student teachers with higher interest towards biology had a more sophisticated level of systems thinking. Teaching that emphasizes specific systems thinking skills and a comprehensive understanding of the broader context is essential for fostering an understanding of sustainability."
... Perusahaan juga dapat mengalami kerugian kompetitif jika pesaing di negara lain tidak diwajibkan untuk mematuhi peraturan lingkungan (Stewart, 1993). Pendapat lain menurut Korten (1998) dan Vernon (1992) bahwa perusahaan dapat menggunakan mesin dan peralatan yang lebih tua lebih lama, sehingga memberikan mereka keuntungan karena mereka dapat menunda rekapitalisasi peralatan tersebut. Perusahaan juga dapat menjual produk yang dilarang atau harus diperbaharui di bawah kebijakan baru jika mereka tidak diharuskan untuk mematuhi standar yang diberlakukan. ...
Studi ini meneliti reaksipasar Indonesia terhadap kebijakan pajak karbon. Kebijakan ini dilakukan pemerintah sebagai langkah dalam merespon isu pemanasan global. Studi ini mencoba menjelaskan mengenai dampak dari kebijakan pengurangan karbon terhadap reaksi investor. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian studi peristiwa dengan populasi penelitiansemua perusahaan yang terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia pada tanggal 7 Oktober 2021. Data diambil dari Yahoo Finance dan IDX dengan jumlah sebanyak 753 perusahaan. Metode sampel yang digunakan adalah metode purposive sampling dengan sampel berupa indeks Kompas 100 dan masing-masing sektor perusahaan yang terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia dengan jumlah 9 sektor dengan periode pengamatan 11 hari (-5,5), 7 hari (-3,3), dan 3 hari (-1,1). Pengujian dilakukan menggunakan Single Index Model dan Historical Mean Modelmenunjukkan bahwa pasar bereaksi terhadap kebijakan karbon (p-value <0,05). Perusahaan sektor pertambangan, industri barang konsumsi, dan agrikultur menjadi perusahaan yang paling berekasi sedangkan sektor keuangan dan perbankan tidak terjadi reaksi. Kebijakan pajak karbon berdampak pada reaksi investor terhadap Bursa Efek Indonesia.
... A study by Davis, Jansen Van Rensburg and Venter (2014:8) confirmed the finding of 'a climate of limited collegiality'. In Korten (2015), the corporate management structure was described as an autocratic, top-down approach to management that legitimised governance strategies such as auditing and tracking performance. Historically, faculty boards provided a collegial forum where important decisions regarding academic matters were made. ...
Corporate norms and values, characterised by an enterprise ethos, became the new parameters that defined the academic environment. Academics are increasingly becoming concerned about the commodification of higher education and its impact on academic quality and the standards of quality graduates. The voices of South African academics and their experiences within the neoliberal university governance remain underexplored in the current literature. This study aimed to enhance understanding and contribute to knowledge by exploring lecturers’ experiences within a corporatised academic work environment. This study took place across public and private higher education institutions in South Africa. A cross-sectional, qualitative, interpretative phenomenological research design was employed. Data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews with a diverse sample of 20 lecturers. The data analysis followed the principles of interpretative phenomenological analysis. The findings of the study identified three key areas that triggered feelings of frustration with management: (1) participants experienced a lack of management’s understanding of governing academic work environments, (2) an erosion of their collegial culture, and (3) a lack of transparent communication.Contribution: A key contribution of this study, which set it apart from other studies, was lecturers’ perceptions that their professional identity, collegiality, autonomy, and academic freedom were in crisis.
... Most commonly discussed in the area of competition as a mechanism of policy diffusion is the concept of the race to the bottom (Korten, 1998). However, this criticism ignores efforts taken by governments to enhance service provision for residents, which have been shown to instead drive a race to the topevidenced by minimum income provisions pioneered in France by regions and in Spain by the Basque Country, which then spread across the whole of the respective state territories (Keating, 2012). ...
There is a need to ensure the effective transfer and diffusion of successful policy innovations that facilitate sustainable development in the Middle East region. However, to date there has been limited research on policy innovation in the Middle East region through theories such as policy diffusion, with most studies focused on North America and Western Europe. The following short essay represents an attempt to highlight this shortfall, stimulate discussion on what key factors could facilitate policy innovation in the Middle East, and promote further studies to address this imbalance. This is a theoretical study that primarily examines three theories that address the spread of policy innovation between governments: policy diffusion, policy laboratories, and borrowing strength. These theories are applied to different factors that influence policy innovation (geographic proximity, political ideology, culture, and networks and individuals) considered within the context of the Middle East to assess their relevance and applicability. Based on the application of these theories and key factors, the essay proposes three novel hypotheses for policy innovation, which are linked to the different factors. Each hypothesis identifies an area where it is expected that policy innovation would occur, if the theories hold true in a Middle Eastern Context. The essay contains an accompanying call to test these hypotheses within the region. It is expected that further studies in this area will be able to both test and build on the proposed hypotheses to determine the applicability of current (Western) theories to explain policy innovation in the Middle East and move towards a more comprehensive and targeted theory of policy in this region.
... A few mega corporations dominate the supply chains of essential goods with subsequent loss of resilience (Goldthau & Hughes, 2020). Similarly, soluble fertilizers , F1 hybrids and GMOs have become globalized intellectual property held by the few large corporations (Korten, 2015;Mohan, 2023). These threaten local community-supported agricultural production. ...
... Useful institutions degenerate into unscrupulous market instruments that destroy livelihoods, displace people, and spark an insatiable thirst for money. these disguised market instruments encourage individuals to commit self-destructive acts that harm their families and communities (Jones, 2005;Korten, 2001;lodge & Wilson, 2006). When the global elite successfully advocates twisted moral standards and nonessential values as frames of reference (within paradigms), the resulting insatiable quest for money and material things can seduce reactive and proactive people into confusing their means and ends. ...
Is the devil dressed in greed? Greed stimulates corruption, which promotes self-alienation, facilitates systemic failure, worsens inequality, and generates false pledges and divide-and-conquer policies. Despite the United Nations’ (UN) existence for much of a century, most countries continue to exploit and compete for cheap labor, causing poverty rates to climb. Most UN member states and other affiliated and international organizations have institutionalized bad governance, corporate abuse, and social injustice to benefit themselves, thus committing institutional crimes and aiding the global elite in a vicious conspiratorial cycle. The entire UN system has harnessed a mafia-like culture of power with impunity in intermestic affairs to control human experience and generate authoritarian paradigms. This in turn stimulates psychological captivity, irrational preferences, and negative herd behavior and divides nations both internationally and domestically. A literature-based transdisciplinary study was conducted to substantiate these assertions and to propose feasible systemic solutions that point toward humanistic paradigms by cultivating psychological freedom and implementing good governance. In this way, the related cognitive processes can be systemically and intermestically amended while resolving the structural weaknesses of the UN, eliminating inequality, uniting nations internationally and domestically, and developing a peaceful, just, and sustainable world order.
... Podemos situar nos últimos 30 anos o investimento das empresas nesta forma de estar e, consequentemente, o seu estudo pela academia. O facto de as empresas terem ganho muito relevo enquanto organizações contribuiu para que a inclusão de práticas de responsabilidade social tivesse sido alavancada, como dizem Korten (1996) e Post et al. (2002). No fundo, importa notar, as empresas assumiram, a partir da segunda metade do século XX, a condição de instituição social mais poderosa. ...
... Podemos situar nos últimos 30 anos o investimento das empresas nesta forma de estar e, consequentemente, o seu estudo pela academia. O facto de as empresas terem ganho muito relevo enquanto organizações contribuiu para que a inclusão de práticas de responsabilidade social tivesse sido alavancada, como dizem Korten (1996) e Post et al. (2002). No fundo, importa notar, as empresas assumiram, a partir da segunda metade do século XX, a condição de instituição social mais poderosa. ...
Esta obra tem como objetivo principal contribuir para o aprofundamento e a partilha do conhecimento sobre a área emergente da comunicação da responsabilidade social. A responsabilidade social é um conjunto de políticas e práticas que uma organização adota voluntariamente tendo em vista o cumprimento harmonioso das necessidades dos seus diversos stakeholders, e a sua adoção por parte das organizações tem sido crescente nas últimas décadas. Assim, torna-se premente o estudo específico da responsabilidade social pela ótica da comunicação organizacional. Com este livro, apresentamos um enquadramento desta temática, assim como um modelo de comunicação para a responsabilidade social.
... However, if corporations and vested interest in the form of stakeholders/lobbies significantly influence the public and political spheres (Kroll and Edinger-Schons, 2023), up to the formation of consensus, political parties and the expression of the vote, the process is inverted, so that the elected are responsible to the top leaders (Korten, 2015). ...
This analysis explores the dynamics of ESG practices, stakeholder democracy, and social responsibility in the contemporary business landscape. Examining the transformative potential of ESG practices, the paper addresses skepticism, emphasizes autonomy in decision-making, and scrutinizes the influence of the business community in politics. It also delves into challenges in liberal democracies, complexities in establishing ESG's financial impact, and potential drawbacks like greenwashing. Recognizing ESG's evolution, the study concludes by advocating for a more pragmatic and democratic approach to shaping public policy.
... disproving the null hypothesis. Global firms may safeguard the environment in nations with environmental legislation [31,32]. This supports [20] and [19], which indicate that foreign market experience improves environmental management and value. ...
... Research proved that for-profit nursing homes (e.g., nursing corporations) appear to provide lower quality of care in many important areas of process and outcome (Grabowski et al., 2013;Hillmer et al., 2005). Thus, it is clear that the dominant influence of corporations on aging and all its aspects is enormous and should not be overlooked, and in some cases may be more important than the policies of national governments (Klein, 2007;Korten, 2001). ...
Despite the growing relevance of business corporations to the lives of older persons, gerontology has given very little, if any, attention to this field. Further, it seems that both the conceptual and the empirical study of what we firstly term “corporate gerontology”—the rich and diverse ways that corporations interact with, influence, and are influenced by older persons and the aging of society—are quite rare.
This systematic literature review was designed and executed to explore and present the current state of academic research in the multidisciplinary realm of aging and the business corporation.
Of the 46 papers surveyed, the majority belong to the category in which aging is an independent variable that influences the performance of business corporations. Only 27% belong to the second category, which explores how the conduct of corporations can influence various aspects of aging.
In light of the retreat of the welfare state and the rising neoliberal system, the lack of adequate governmental responses to aging has paved the way for profit-guided business corporations to enter the field. Their conduct should not be overlooked, and in establishing a new theoretical framework of corporate gerontology, we hope it will draw future research and public attention and raise awareness of this phenomenon.
... The literature on globalization falls into three camps: the largely analytical (Bauman, 1998;Beck, 2002;Giddens, 2001;Hardt & Negri, 2000), the chiefly celebratory (Micklethwait & Woolridge, 2000), and the highly critical (Ali, 2002;Booth & Dunne, 2002;Chua, 2003;Gray, 2003;Stiglitz, 2002). But while there is an implicit and explicit understanding that the modern world has come about through the expansion of trade, the development of technology, and the growth of global corporations, it is corporations that have increasingly been held to account for the social and environmental impacts of their financial performance (Balkan, 2004;Korten, 1995;Zadek, Pruzan, & Evans, 1997). The cases of Shell, McDonald's, Nike, and Starbucks (discussed elsewhere in this book) are but a few examples. ...
Should business strive to be socially responsible, and if so, how? The Debate over Corporate Social Responsibility updates and broadens the discussion of these questions by bringing together in one volume a variety of practical and theoretical perspectives on corporate social responsibility. It is perhaps the single most comprehensive volume available on the question of just how "social" business ought to be. The volume includes contributions from the fields of communication, business, law, sociology, political science, economics, accounting, and environmental studies. Moreover, it draws from experiences and examples from around the world, including but not limited to recent corporate scandals and controversies in the U.S. and Europe. A number of the chapters examine closely the basic assumptions underlying the philosophy of socially responsible business. Other chapters speak to the practical challenges and possibilities for corporate social responsiblilty in the twenty-first century. One of the most distinctive features of the book is its coverage of the very ways that the issue of corporate social responsibility has been defined, shaped, and discussed in the past four decades. That is, the editors and many of the authors are attuned to the persuasive strategies and formulations used to talk about socially responsible business, and demonstrate why the talk matters. For example, the book offers a careful analysis of how certain values have become associated with the business enterprise and how particular economic and political positions have been established by and for business. This book will be of great interest to scholars, business leaders, graduate students, and others interested in the contours of the debate over what role large-scale corporate commerce should take in the future of the industrialized world.
... When we look into the application or basic research, most papers focus on only one or two aspects of sustainability. Korten (1998), Hadorn et al. (2006) and Nakamba et al. (2017) had also highlighted the need for a transdisciplinary approach in basic and applied research. Unless we take a whole-system thought and action we will not be able to solve the problems of sustainability, which is essentially systemic. ...
Abstract: Sustainability has gained prominence as a discipline for academics and professional practitioners. This article presents a bibliographic account and related analysis of research in sustainability between 1990 and 2019. A critical study of different aspects of sustainability requires a multi/interdisciplinary systems approach. Such a study may encompass ecological, economical, and sociological perspectives. For this reason, the bibliometric analysis has covered a wide range of professional disciplines.
183,779 bibliographic entries from SCOPUS were analysed with latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) to discover different aspects of publications in sustainability. The study showed that all publications can be classified according to 25 topics, showing how sustainability research has evolved and the consequent gaps that need to be filled for the advancement of the research and community of practice. The LDA analysis resulted in creating a topic model that facilitates the automated categorisation of publications regarding sustainability.
Keywords: sustainability; systematic literature survey; text analytics; latent Dirichlet allocation; LDA; topic model; bibliographic analysis.
... Previously, many companies considered growth as the top priority in the industrialization process and often sacrificed social values. This resulted in negative social impacts, such as environmental pollution, the deterioration of working conditions, and human rights violations [32]. However, as the industry grows, the perception of accompanying social issues has changed significantly and the trend of requiring companies to undertake social responsibility activities has become stronger [33]. ...
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become a management strategy that simultaneously pursues societal and company sustainable development. Additionally, CSR is becoming a key strategy to secure competitiveness and sustainability by improving a company’s reputation and creating new business opportunities. Thus, expectations and demands for companies’ social impacts and sustainability from various stakeholders, such as shareholders, consumers, employees, and local communities, have begun to rise. This study focused on the distinctive factor of rapid economic growth, which characterizes Korean development, and analyzed the relationship between CSR and firm performance according to the industries’ growth rates. Regression analysis was conducted through multi-level analysis using data from a sample of 102 companies that prepared sustainability reports or ESG reports in Korea; the research results are as follows. First, CSR activities have a positive impact on firm performance. Second, when CSR activities increase, the firm performance increases faster for companies in the high-growth industry group than those in the low-growth industry group. Furthermore, we conducted additional analyses to examine the moderating effect of industry growth and found that companies in the high-growth industry group had higher overall CSR levels than those in the low-growth industry group. This study’s results provide meaningful implications for understanding how CSR affects a company’s economic performance and acts as a way to strike a balance between industrial development and fulfilling social responsibility.
... That logic brings with it urbanization, with centralization as a policy framing (Harvey, 2006). The corollary of such framing is that large corporations (Korten, 2001) are considered the suitable direction and focus of policy interventions. Big business first is the dominant praxis, even if not the one favored by all ideologies. ...
By using different current-sees, as with ledger systems used by the Neocracy, the BookMooch book-sharing service, and Pisteet kotiin, we can build strong resilient local communities as part of a network making up a Resilient State, a worthy successor to the Nordic Welfare State.
The Resilient State is part of the endeavor to make the great transition forced upon us by the threats of climate change. Viable rural communities are needed, so we can be worthy ancestors of the Indigenous peoples to come.
This study reflects on Steve de Gruchy’s holistic model of theology and development (TD), emphasising his commitment to justice, human dignity and social transformation in the context of post-apartheid South Africa. De Gruchy was a notable South African theologian whose scholarship significantly influenced development theory, public theology and social ethics. This article is presented in response to the commemoration of 50 years of scholarship at the Research Institute of Theology and Religion at the University of South Africa, and the question is: How does De Gruchy’s holistic model of TD inform our understanding of socio-ecological, political and economic challenges in South Africa, and what implications does it have for development practices both locally and globally? This study employs an interdisciplinary approach, integrating theological analysis with development theory, drawing from De Gruchy’s works and contextual examples. It examines the historical injustices in South Africa, critiques neoliberal economic paradigms and emphasises participatory frameworks for social change. Findings reveal that De Gruchy advocates for TD that transcends economic metrics, highlighting ecological, social and spiritual dimensions. His emphasis on integrated approaches, such as the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, illustrates the necessity of empowering marginalised communities. The role of faith communities as catalysts for social change underscores the potential for constructive engagement between secular and religious sectors. This study is significant as it reiterates the relevance of De Gruchy’s insights in addressing ongoing development challenges, advocating for a reconceptualisation of TD that intertwines theory and praxis, promoting collaborative solutions in the African context and beyond.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article honours De Gruchy’s lasting impact on contemporary TD discourses and the Research Institute of Theology and Religion at the University of South Africa’s 50 years of scholarship. His liberation theory of holistic development encourages theologians to address socio-ecological challenges, promoting ethical responses in South Africa and beyond. It bridges gaps with sociology and environmental science, fostering collaborative efforts for sustainable solutions.
Organizational eclecticism has characterized much of policy and administrative choices in public governance in the last three decades. This concluding chapter addresses this phenomenon and argues that roads have been taken, targets have been met, and many lessons have been learned in organizing and managing public sector governance, as the chapters in this book demonstrate. In the process, experiments have been conducted, some with success, while others with failure, leading to a proliferation of eclectic choices, many unsuited for organizational effectiveness but beneficial to powerful interest groups and politicians, all at the expense of alternative organizational choices and broad-based public interests. Three broad theoretical models/periods are examined, the proliferation of public sector organizational eclecticism is analyzed, and options are suggested concerning alternative organizational choices, resulting in the question: can we go home now?
Governance and administrative reforms have characterized human actions in changing, improving, developing, and modifying governments and their institutions of administration and management throughout history since ancient times. Indeed, reforming governments and administrative systems has always been a regular occurrence, and it has been the regular business of modern governments. Each generation of human beings has witnessed monumental changes—some in the form of reforms, others in the form of revolutions, or turmoil of one kind or another (Farazmand, 1989a, b; Peters, 2002).
Master of Arts thesis submitted in 2001.
La idea de una aldea global, tal como la propuso Marshal McLuhan a finales de los años sesenta del siglo pasado fue amplia (aunque nunca universalmente) reconocida como un precedente definitorio para la comprensión del emergente proceso de globalización que se aceleró marcadamente al término de la Guerra Fría. No obstante, la globalifobia, el resurgimiento del nacionalismo, la xenofobia y el proteccionismo, entre otros movimientos fragmentadores, característicos de las primeras décadas de este siglo, parecen sugerir que la idea de una aldea global ha pasado de moda y que, por lo tanto, ahora resulta prácticamente inútil para el estudio del estado actual de la sociedad internacional. Mi argumento en este ensayo es que esto no es así. Mi hipótesis central es que, a pesar de los movimientos globalifóbicos de hoy en día, la idea de una aldea global, tal como la sugirió McLuhan en su momento, sigue siendo tan útil, válida e importante como cuando se presentó originalmente y mi intención es demostrar cómo y porqué esto es así.
Trans-national corporations (TNCs) are recognised as having an adverse impact on public health through the marketing and sale of unhealthy products. In addition to this some of their practices affect health, including taxation avoidance, lobbying politicians to gain favourable legislative and regulatory environments for their operations, and failure to abide by occupational health and safety standards. We argue that while considering the individual practices of commercial actors is crucial the true public health harms are only evident when the synergistic impacts of the practices are considered. We also note that the practices are supported by a global economic and political system which operates in the favour of commercial actors rather than the health of people and the planet. Consequently there needs to be a norm change by which norms and power are shifted away from commercial interests and externalities of commercial practices are no longer outsourced to the public purse.
This research stems from the implementation of Kuliah Kerja Nyata (KKN) in Tenjolaya Village, Bandung Regency, involving students in intensive observation. KKN, as a student dedication activity, aims to have a positive impact on the community through coordination with government, education and UMKM, and local communities. This observation, as the main foundation of the KKN work program, opens up problem horizons in Tenjolaya Village. The issues include a lack of understanding among PKK mothers regarding Microsoft Excel, insufficient awareness of students regarding cyberbullying impacts, and a lack of students' confidence in career prospects. In the UMKM sector, dependence on the owner and one workforce is a constraint, coupled with the expansion of online marketing strategies. The research focus also includes increasing the capacity and involvement of Karang Taruna in RW 09 and RW 10. The research methodology adopts a qualitative approach with participatory observation during KKN. This study targets the improvement of understanding and skills among PKK mothers in using Microsoft Excel, educational administration efficiency, students' confidence in career prospects, students' understanding of productive department material, promotion of students' habits in foreign language learning, reducing UMKM dependence on the owner and one workforce, and increasing the capacity and involvement of Karang Taruna in RW 09 and RW 10. Thus, this research strives to provide sustainable solutions to enhance community skills and awareness. The achievement is directed toward efficiency to support holistic development in various sectors. The research results are expected to contribute positively to the welfare and development of the Tenjolaya community, bringing broader positive impacts at the local level. The final conclusion emphasizes the urgency of sustained and holistic efforts to achieve efficiency across all layers of society.
The article proposes to test the hypothesis that it is the market power of giant corporations that forms the basis of the global deep state. Therefore, it is not States, but corporations themselves, that are the driver of reducing the sovereignty of states. The latter is often only a personification of the exercise of corporate power.
Work is a large part of life, yet in our generation the church has largely ignored both work and the worker. The result is that three myths about work are prevalent among Christians and damage the church. The first myth is that there is good work and less good work. The second myth is that hard work is good work. The third myth is an outcome of the other two, that the good work of evangelism should not be mixed with economic work. The paper ends by discussing how Luther and Puritans views of work explode these myths and bring perspective to this key part of life.
يَهدف البحث إلى بيان أنّ التجارة والنظم الاقتصادية البشرية سياقٌ ملائمٌ، لفهم دور المحاسبة، فقد نشأت المحاسبة استجابةً لحاجاتِ الأعمالِ في الأمم والحضارات، ثم انحصر دور المحاسبة في الشركات الفردية والتضامن على الرقابة على موارد المالك التي يوكِّل التصرف فيها للغير، ثم دعت الثورة الصناعية إلى قيام أنموذج الشركة المساهمة؛ والذي أسفر عن وجود ’سيدان‘ على المحاسبة خدمتهما هما: المدير التنفيذي (Chief Executive Officer)، وحملة الأسهم؛ الذيْن يتم التقرير والإفصاح لهم عن الآثار المالية للأحداث، التي أثّرت على المركز المالي للشركة المساهمة، التي مولوها ومولوا عملياتها التشغيلية. إنّ الشركة المساهمة عبارة عن: عقود متداخلة (nexus contracts)، منها العقد منظّم العَلاقة بين حملة أسهم الشركة ومديرها التنفيذي؛ التي تُصنّف أنها عَلاقة منظمّة بعقد وظيفي، ومنها أيضًا العقد الاجتماعي بين المُراجع الخارجي ومجتمعه، ومنهم حملة الأسهم. إنّ المحاسبة في الشركات المساهمة في أمسِّ الحاجة إلى نظريةٍ للشركة المساهمَة؛ فقصر تنظيرها على الشخصية الاعتبارية (artificial persona) وعلى الوكالة (agency) تنظير غير كافٍ.
تخلص الدراسة إلى أنه قد تستطيع المحاسبة أن تفيد مجتمَعَها إنْ صَمَّمت نظامًا محاسبيًا، يأخذ في الاعتبار أن المدير التنفيذي هو من التصرف والمهابة بمكان وبقدر ما يحظى به المالك، وأنّ المموّل مضاربٌ، ففي عقد المضاربة أملًا في فهم الشركة المساهمّة.
الكلمات الدالة: دور المحاسبة، طبيعة المحاسبة، نظم اقتصادية، شركات، نظرية المنشأة، الشركات المساهمة.
Accounting arose in response to the needs of businesses in nations and cross civilizations. The role of accounting in individual and joint-venture companies was limited to controlling the owner’s resources and that of whom was entrusted to manage. Then the Industrial Revolution called for the establishment of the corporate model as a mechanism to magnetize the required capital for creation of corporations. Such a model brought into existence two “masters” for accounting. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who needs to be served internally, and the shareholders who financed and ill finance its operations and to whom the financial effects of the events that affect the financial position of the corporation are reported and disclosed. The corporation is composed of nexus contracts, including the organized relationship between the company’s shareholders and its CEO, which is classified as an employment contract, and the social contract between the external auditor and his community, including the shareholders.
Accounting in corporations is in need of a theory of the corporation, so accounting theory is limited. On legal personality and on agency, there is an insufficient theory that may be able to benefit its accounting society. If the accounting system for corporation is designed to take into account that the executive director is as disposed and respected as the owner, while the financier is a speculator or even better Mudarab. The application of the Mudarabah contract brings hope in understanding the reality of the corporation away from idealism in deciding what the corporation should be.
Keywords: Role of Accounting; Nature of Accounting; Economic Systems; Companies; Theory of the Firm; Corporations.
The fully updated second edition of this innovative textbook provides a system analysis approach to sustainability for advanced undergraduate and graduate students. To an extent unparalleled in other textbooks, the latest scientific data and insights are integrated into a broad and deep transdisciplinary framework. Readers are encouraged to explore and engage with sustainability issues through the lenses of a cultural and methodological pluralism which promotes dialogue and alliances in the search for a (more) sustainable future. Ideal for students and their teachers in sustainable development, environmental science and policy, ecology, conservation, natural resources and geopolitics, the book will also appeal to interested citizens, activists, and policymakers, exposing them to the variety of perspectives on sustainability issues. Review questions and exercises provide the opportunity for consolidation and reflection. Online resources include appendices with more advanced mathematical material, model answers, and a wealth of recommended additional sources.
The core of today’s market metaphysics is the calculative thinking which considers everything as a marketable resource. This position is highly destructive both for the subject and the object of economic activities. To preserve nature and satisfy real human needs, gentle, careful ways of undertaking economic activities are needed. Poetic dwelling models inspired by the arts can inspire organizations and people to transform themselves into responsive and caring agents. The great paradox of values is that if utility considerations precede beauty and ethics, then utility itself will be destroyed. If we wish to live in a sustainable and human world, we should prioritize beauty and ethics over utility.KeywordsMarket metaphysicsCalculative thinkingPoetic dwelling modelsThe artsParadox of values
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