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Reporting on Labour - The Case of Systembolaget

Olsson, Sofie LU (2014) STVK12 20141
Department of Political Science
Abstract
In a globalised world dominated by market-led growth, a rolled back state and a powerful business sector, production networks have become increasingly complex. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) evolved as a mainly business-driven response to civil society actors’ call for more ethical business practices that care for people and environment. As such, the business sector has successfully come be a key actor within the very discourse that criticised it. However, this business-led approach to development has received fierce criticism. It is claimed that the optimism with which CSR is promoted is reinforcing itself rather than being built upon evidence of its working. Through a critical discourse analysis of the involvement of labour and... (More)
In a globalised world dominated by market-led growth, a rolled back state and a powerful business sector, production networks have become increasingly complex. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) evolved as a mainly business-driven response to civil society actors’ call for more ethical business practices that care for people and environment. As such, the business sector has successfully come be a key actor within the very discourse that criticised it. However, this business-led approach to development has received fierce criticism. It is claimed that the optimism with which CSR is promoted is reinforcing itself rather than being built upon evidence of its working. Through a critical discourse analysis of the involvement of labour and workers in Systembolaget’s annual reports, this thesis finds substance for such critique. Successful rhetoric and reference to international codes are advanced as CSR accomplishments per se and despite showing awareness of human rights violations and tough labour conditions, the reports fail to problematize the power relations between different actors of the supply chain. Harvest workers, who should arguably be the main beneficiary of CSR, are not consulted when creating CSR policies. Without active participation of the beneficiary of developmental efforts, the legitimacy of CSR as a developmental actor of prominence falls short. The thesis concludes by confirming existing literature within the field, claiming that assessment of the actual developmental advantages of CSR is needed. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Olsson, Sofie LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVK12 20141
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
CSR, reporting, Systembolaget, supply chain, labour, worker, inclusion, power, development
language
English
id
4451479
date added to LUP
2014-06-18 12:13:59
date last changed
2014-06-18 12:13:59
@misc{4451479,
  abstract     = {{In a globalised world dominated by market-led growth, a rolled back state and a powerful business sector, production networks have become increasingly complex. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) evolved as a mainly business-driven response to civil society actors’ call for more ethical business practices that care for people and environment. As such, the business sector has successfully come be a key actor within the very discourse that criticised it. However, this business-led approach to development has received fierce criticism. It is claimed that the optimism with which CSR is promoted is reinforcing itself rather than being built upon evidence of its working. Through a critical discourse analysis of the involvement of labour and workers in Systembolaget’s annual reports, this thesis finds substance for such critique. Successful rhetoric and reference to international codes are advanced as CSR accomplishments per se and despite showing awareness of human rights violations and tough labour conditions, the reports fail to problematize the power relations between different actors of the supply chain. Harvest workers, who should arguably be the main beneficiary of CSR, are not consulted when creating CSR policies. Without active participation of the beneficiary of developmental efforts, the legitimacy of CSR as a developmental actor of prominence falls short. The thesis concludes by confirming existing literature within the field, claiming that assessment of the actual developmental advantages of CSR is needed.}},
  author       = {{Olsson, Sofie}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Reporting on Labour - The Case of Systembolaget}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}