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Discord is Caused by Those Who Posses - On CSR Discourse

Kjellstenius, Erik LU (2016) STVM25 20161
Department of Political Science
Abstract
The purpose of this thesis is to describe the discursive development and to investigate the political consequences of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Since its origins in the United States in the 1950s, CSR has developed into a symbolic powerhouse, affecting corporations, governments and peoples. CSR as a concept provides a convincing common-sense argument: why should the affluent not contribute to the public good while still being able to make a profit? My argument is that rather than providing a solution to our predicaments (e.g. environmental crisis, massively unequal distribution of resources), CSR is a symptom telling us that something is ‘not right’.
Using discourse theory, this thesis analyzes Business Administration... (More)
The purpose of this thesis is to describe the discursive development and to investigate the political consequences of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Since its origins in the United States in the 1950s, CSR has developed into a symbolic powerhouse, affecting corporations, governments and peoples. CSR as a concept provides a convincing common-sense argument: why should the affluent not contribute to the public good while still being able to make a profit? My argument is that rather than providing a solution to our predicaments (e.g. environmental crisis, massively unequal distribution of resources), CSR is a symptom telling us that something is ‘not right’.
Using discourse theory, this thesis analyzes Business Administration literature in order to map out the development of CSR. The analysis constructs two main discourses: Autonomy CSR discourse which primarily serves as a strategy for business to maintain its autonomous position within the social structure, and Legitimacy CSR discourse which goal it is to construct legitimacy for the autonomy given to corporations in late capitalism.
The conclusion of the thesis is that Legitimacy CSR discourse (the discourse of present day) is ill equipped to significantly alter the system we inhabit, and thus provides few long-term solutions to our predicament. (Less)
Popular Abstract
The purpose of this thesis is to describe the discursive development and to investigate the political consequences of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Since its origins in the United States in the 1950s, CSR has developed into a symbolic powerhouse, affecting corporations, governments and peoples. CSR as a concept provides a convincing common-sense argument: why should the affluent not contribute to the public good while still being able to make a profit? My argument is that rather than providing a solution to our predicaments (e.g. environmental crisis, massively unequal distribution of resources), CSR is a symptom telling us that something is ‘not right’.
Using discourse theory, this thesis analyzes Business Administration... (More)
The purpose of this thesis is to describe the discursive development and to investigate the political consequences of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Since its origins in the United States in the 1950s, CSR has developed into a symbolic powerhouse, affecting corporations, governments and peoples. CSR as a concept provides a convincing common-sense argument: why should the affluent not contribute to the public good while still being able to make a profit? My argument is that rather than providing a solution to our predicaments (e.g. environmental crisis, massively unequal distribution of resources), CSR is a symptom telling us that something is ‘not right’.
Using discourse theory, this thesis analyzes Business Administration literature in order to map out the development of CSR. The analysis constructs two main discourses: Autonomy CSR discourse which primarily serves as a strategy for business to maintain its autonomous position within the social structure, and Legitimacy CSR discourse which goal it is to construct legitimacy for the autonomy given to corporations in late capitalism.
The conclusion of the thesis is that Legitimacy CSR discourse (the discourse of present day) is ill equipped to significantly alter the system we inhabit, and thus provides few long-term solutions to our predicament. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Kjellstenius, Erik LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVM25 20161
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Discourse, Legitimacy, Political Theory, Power
language
English
id
8873381
date added to LUP
2016-06-17 12:35:07
date last changed
2016-06-17 12:35:07
@misc{8873381,
  abstract     = {{The purpose of this thesis is to describe the discursive development and to investigate the political consequences of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Since its origins in the United States in the 1950s, CSR has developed into a symbolic powerhouse, affecting corporations, governments and peoples. CSR as a concept provides a convincing common-sense argument: why should the affluent not contribute to the public good while still being able to make a profit? My argument is that rather than providing a solution to our predicaments (e.g. environmental crisis, massively unequal distribution of resources), CSR is a symptom telling us that something is ‘not right’.
Using discourse theory, this thesis analyzes Business Administration literature in order to map out the development of CSR. The analysis constructs two main discourses: Autonomy CSR discourse which primarily serves as a strategy for business to maintain its autonomous position within the social structure, and Legitimacy CSR discourse which goal it is to construct legitimacy for the autonomy given to corporations in late capitalism.
The conclusion of the thesis is that Legitimacy CSR discourse (the discourse of present day) is ill equipped to significantly alter the system we inhabit, and thus provides few long-term solutions to our predicament.}},
  author       = {{Kjellstenius, Erik}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Discord is Caused by Those Who Posses - On CSR Discourse}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}