Responsible Enterprise

This fundamental work analyses the great variety of normative processes encompassed by the term ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ (CSR) and subjects them to a systematic and critical examination. Domestic and supranational legislation, international law and transnational private law instruments – supplemented and superseded by soft law and informal steering by private and public organisations – are the ‘smart mix’ from which a global order for enterprise responsibility is emerging. The author relates these processes to fundamental considerations on the conception of enterprise, the justification and scope of enterprise responsibility and public-private governance. She reveals that the informalization of norm-creation and its transfer to the executive and private actors raises fundamental questions of national sovereignty, democratic legitimation and rule of law. A new conception of ‘law’ is also required.

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents overview PART A CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Chapter 1. Foundations of the Corporate Social Responsibility Discussion I. Renaissance of historical conceptions II. Elementary CSR conceptions Chapter 2. CSR Conceptions of the United Nations I. Draft UN Code of Conduct on Transnational Corporations II. UN Global Compact III. Business and Human Rights IV. The UN CSR system V. Summary Chapter 3. The OECD CSR Conception I. The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises II. The OECD CSR system III. Summary Chapter 4. The ISO CSR Conception I. Guidance on social responsibility ISO 26000:2010 II. The ISO CSR system III. Summary Chapter 5. CSR Strategy of the European Union I. CSR relevant European fundamental and human rights II. The CSR approaches of the European Union III. Summary Chapter 6. National CSR Strategies I. CSR and national law (transnationalization) II. National law and extraterritorial issues III. National jurisdiction for extraterritorial matters IV. Summary Chapter 7. Sector-specific CSR Conceptions I. The mining industry II. The financial sector III. The textile industry IV. The legal profession V. Summary Chapter 8. Evaluation of the CSR Discourse and Further Questions I. Enterprise II. Responsibility III. Governance PART B RESPONSIBLE ENTERPRISE Chapter 9. Enterprise I. The conception of enterprise II. Group responsibility Chapter 10. Responsibility I. Responsibility in the CSR debate II. Fundamental questions of enterprise responsibility Chapter 11. Governance I. Is CSR law? II. The CSR conception of governance III. Constitutionalization

About the Author :
Birgit Spiesshofer lectures on Business and Human Rights, CSR and International Law at the Freie Universität Berlin and the University of Bremen and works as an attorney at law in International Law firms.

Review :
Its insights are based on extensive research and thorough and careful analysis. It maps out the normative innovative dimensions of CSR and identifies the key questions to be further developed by academic research, policy making and in business practice.