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Journal of Business Ethics

Erschienen in:

01.03.2015

Governmentalities of CSR: Danish Government Policy as a Reflection of Political Difference

verfasst von: Steen Vallentin

Erschienen in: Journal of Business Ethics | Ausgabe 1/2015

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Abstract

This paper investigates the roles that Danish government has played in the development of corporate social responsibility (CSR). Denmark has emerged as a first mover among the Scandinavian countries when it comes to CSR. We argue that government has played a pivotal role in making this happen, and that this reflects strong traditions of regulation, corporatism and active state involvement. However, there is no unitary “Danish model of CSR” being promoted by government. Although Danish society is often associated with a model of consensus, our claim is that Danish government policy on CSR is characterized by a lack of common direction and that we need to approach it on such terms. In order to provide a critical account of ‘the Danish model’ we apply a governmentality perspective that allows us to stress political difference. We argue that Danish government policy consists of three distinct regimes of practice and show how they subject CSR to different modes of rationalization and action. We conclude that the problem with public policy being split into three is not different as such, but the failure of each regime to recognize the value of the others. As a result, government tends to add to the confusion and opaqueness of CSR.

Vorheriger Artikel From Implicit to Explicit CSR in a Scandinavian Context: The Cases of HÅG and Hydro

Nächster Artikel Reputation, Responsibility, and Stakeholder Support in Scandinavian Firms: A Comparative Analysis

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The Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs was renamed the Ministry of Business and Growth as of January 2012.

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Titel: Governmentalities of CSR: Danish Government Policy as a Reflection of Political Difference
verfasst von: Steen Vallentin
Publikationsdatum: 01.03.2015
Verlag: Springer Netherlands
Erschienen in: Journal of Business Ethics / Ausgabe 1/2015
Print ISSN: 0167-4544
Elektronische ISSN: 1573-0697
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-013-1703-5

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