The corporate business enterprise is a core institution of capitalism. It holds immense political, economic, and cultural power in society. It mobilizes social and planetary resources to its utility in pursuit of private profit maximization and with little regard for social concerns. Its influence over so much of societal life and effects on the natural environment raise critical questions about the firm and its governance in democratic society. Various voices seek reforms of regulation and corporate governance practices to those shaped by the neoliberal policies persisting in the current decades. But prospects for amelioration within our current horizons of thinking appear elusive. This book contributes a distinctly social theoretical approach to the social problem of governing the firm. Its discussions complement debates in economics, politics, and law. Its critical social theorizations challenge conventional understandings of the firm and neoliberal legitimacies of its governance and posit alternatives. The book explores the social relations and moral fabric of the firm and the creativity of human action at work. It proposes a reimagined corporate governance premised on just recognition of that social vitality. It invites unprecedented collaboration for a robust participatory democracy for governing the firm and market action oriented to ecological and social sustainability.

"These authors argue that efficient corporate governance requires the establishment of devices of cooperation among the various stakeholders that enable the operation of collective learning. Their contributions to this book clearly enunciate both the need for such organisational learning and the lessons of several specific recent transformations in governance practice that manifest a degree of such learning.".

The chapters in this volume cover a wide range of theoretical perspectives grounded in strategy, economics and sociology, employ various methodological approaches, and offer new arguments on the connections that exist between firms’ decisions relating to sustainability, CSR, and the governance of their stakeholder relations.

In the past two decades, the traditional role of corporate governance has been greatly augmented and transformed by increased attention to the importance of social inclusion in business decisions and of environmental impacts of business activities, giving rise to the now well-understood linkage among environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. This book is the first to thoroughly analyze the ESG phenomenon as a tripartite corporate purpose model and the profusion of laws and regulations it continues to engender. Drawing on perspectives from law, economics, and business management, the book focuses on those ESG challenges that are most likely to impact companies in the coming years. The author discusses such aspects of ESG law, regulation, and practice as the following: impact of digitalization on ESG practices; competing ESG perspectives and whether there are signs of convergence toward a more universal model; impact of corporate ownership patterns; review of hard and soft law responses; corporate control under COVID-19 pandemic conditions; workplace and workforce transformations; various ESG-related corporate scandals and controversies; ESG regulatory responses from international entities such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO); and seminal ESG cases in various business sectors. The emphasis throughout is on developments in the European Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom, both because it is in those jurisdictions that ESG challenges have been and are most fully dealt with and because these economies taken together are likely to continue exerting dominating influence across the world. What this book says about ESG provides pertinent insights and guidance for those seeking a better understanding of ESG practices and underlying theories across major economies. With essential information and guidance for ESG law practitioners, policymakers, and academicians, the book gives clarity and guidance as to who should lead the charge for ESG practices in business enterprises in major jurisdictional settings. Its detailed coverage of best ESG practices will be welcomed by those conducting their business enterprises within approved regulatory perimeters.

The "business case" for corporate social responsibility, which suggests that socially and environmentally aware companies can expect to reap financial rewards, is seemingly gaining widespread acceptance within the business community. This is particularly apparent in the ever-increasing number of prominent companies parading their social, ethical and environmental credentials by producing paper- or web-based social and environmental, or sustainability, reports. In so doing, reporting companies claim, they are demonstrating a clear commitment to transparency and accountability to their key stakeholder groups. However, in the prevailing voluntaristic, business-case-centred climate within which such initiatives are taking place, little thought appears to have gone into the question of how stakeholders, other than the capital provider group, can actually use corporate disclosures offered in order to hold management accountable for the social and environmental consequences of their actions. While much corporate rhetoric abounds concerning notions of stakeholder dialogue and engagement, rigorous analysis of the governance implications of their claimed commitment to the principles of corporate social responsibility is largely conspicuous by its absence. Corporate Social Responsibility, Accountability and Governance seeks to explore this "missing link" between CSR (and associated reporting initiatives) and governance mechanisms that are capable of embracing true stakeholder accountability. A wide range of case studies, drawing on experiences of both public- and private-sector initiatives in Europe, the United States, Canada, South America and Asia, offer insightful analysis of the complex relationships between the state, the market and civil society in the development of CSR, accountability and sustainable development. The book employs a multidisciplinary perspective in order to analyse the political, social, economic, technological, legal and organisational shaping of CSR. The complexities underpinning the concept are thereby clearly drawn out and the gross oversimplifications inherent in the prevailing consultancy-driven, business-case literature painfully exposed. Above all, the book offers a sound, practically and theoretically informed contribution to public policy debate and reflects and builds on urgent calls from public- and private-sector policy-makers as well as academics to develop better governance and accountability frameworks for business to deal with the imperatives of social responsibility, sustainable development and ethics. This book is divided into five parts. In Part 1, the complex concepts of responsibility, accountability and governance are discussed, and in particular the presumed relationships between the state, the market and civil society in improving accountability and governance are explored and critiqued. Part 2 consists of chapters relating to corporate social responsibility and stakeholder theory. Part 3 is concerned with empirical studies covering governance structures, networking and corporate social responsibility. Part 4 deals with corporate governance and its implications for regulators and civil society. Part 5 discusses multinational companies and how they impact on national governance regimes. Finally, a summary is provided with emerging international patterns of accountability and governance structures. Corporate Social Responsibility, Accountability and Governance will be essential reading for public and private policy-makers and practitioners and academics interested in how CSR can become more than a soundbite, and rather a substantial force for better global corporate governance and accountability.

This book addresses the increasing overlap between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and law with a particular focus on company law and corporate governance. What is the impact of CSR on company law and corporate governance and, vice versa? How do these systems impact on CSR? Do they enable, require or prevent the socially responsible conduct of companies, for example, through corporate theory, directors’ duties or disclosure laws? What is the role of shareholders and directors in the promotion of CSR?The theme of the book ensures a sharing of ideas and experiences globally and internationally for all jurisdictions to consider core legal and social aspects of CSR.

Written by experts from all over the world, A Handbook of Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility is the most authoritative single-volume guide to the relationship between good governance and social responsibility and the reality of managing both. In addition to the theory and practice of governance and CSR, the book includes case studies from large and small organizations and NGOs.

The Research Handbook on Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance presents a comprehensive view of a rapidly evolving area of study. Adopting a comparative approach, it goes beyond issues of sustainability and human rights, covering the whole spectrum of ESG and its regulatory developments.

Corporate governance can be considered as an environment of trust, ethics, moral values, and confidence as a synergistic effort of all the constituent parts, including stakeholders, the public, service provides, and the corporate sector. The actions of an organization and the consequences of those actions has become increasingly concerned with corporate governance. As such, it is essential to examine the latest concepts and trends that can lead to the development of effective models for corporate boards. Transforming Corporate Governance and Developing Models for Board Effectiveness is an essential reference source that contains forward-thinking research intended to facilitate effective, entrepreneurial, and prudent management that can deliver the long-term success of the company. The book discusses the different theories and practices surrounding boards of directors’ responsibilities and innovative strategies for the governance of their companies that allow them to become and remain successful. Highlighting topics that include board diversity and independence, business ethics, and family business governance, this book is intended for corporate boards, board of directors, executives, managers, business professionals, academicians, researchers, policymakers, and students.

This exciting new text provides a complete introduction to Corporate Governance. It deals with the control and direction of companies by boards, owners and company law, and also looks at the mechanisms of governance and the different governance systems around the world. Part 1: is a non-technical overview of the relevant theories, governance mechanisms and the country models.Part 2: looks at some of the most important governance mechanisms in detail.Part 3: studies individual international corporate governance systems.Part 4: wraps up with a discussion on governance practices.