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Bringing Shell and Friends of the Earth on stage: A one-act spectacle of oil spills in the Niger Delta

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  • Pupovac, Sanja
  • Moerman, Lee

Abstract

This paper explores the spectacle of oil spills in the Niger Delta as a controversial dialogue between Royal Dutch Shell plc and the civil-society organization Friends of the Earth International (FoE). Using the theater metaphor, we create a one-act play as a spectacular production of dialogic engagement between Shell’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports and an FoE shadow account. The paper reveals CSR practices as a contemporary manifestation of a disclosure spectacle, and shadow accounts as resistance in the form of parody. The study contributes to the theorizing of spectacle and adds to the discussion of resistance as a political act.

Suggested Citation

  • Pupovac, Sanja & Moerman, Lee, 2022. "Bringing Shell and Friends of the Earth on stage: A one-act spectacle of oil spills in the Niger Delta," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:crpeac:v:85:y:2022:i:c:s104523542030112x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.cpa.2020.102264
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