IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/jbuset/v190y2024i2d10.1007_s10551-023-05413-0.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Civil Society Roles in CSR Legislation

Author

Listed:
  • Guillaume Delalieux

    (University of La Rochelle)

  • Arno Kourula

    (University of Amsterdam Business School)

  • Eric Pezet

    (Paris Nanterre University)

Abstract

While Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is often seen to involve voluntary and deliberative approaches such as certification, governments have recently stepped into the picture through national legislation. France’s Law on Duty of Vigilance adopted in 2017 is a landmark case of such legislation. Years of voluntary CSR certification schemes led by Civil Society were replaced by a new philosophy of fighting for mandatory CSR controlled by a judge. We depict the change of mindset and the related change of roles inside the coalition of Civil Society actors represents a Machiavellian Moment. The combination of collective civil society actors’ roles (namely nongovernmental organizations and labor unions) as Machiavellian Virtue with disruptive events as Machiavellian Fortuna made the law’s adoption possible. Based on this case study, we provide an analysis of civil society roles in the development of CSR-related legislation.

Suggested Citation

  • Guillaume Delalieux & Arno Kourula & Eric Pezet, 2024. "Civil Society Roles in CSR Legislation," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 190(2), pages 347-370, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:190:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1007_s10551-023-05413-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-023-05413-0
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10551-023-05413-0
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10551-023-05413-0?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. de Bakker, Frank G.A. & Rasche, Andreas & Ponte, Stefano, 2019. "Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives on Sustainability: A Cross-Disciplinary Review and Research Agenda for Business Ethics," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 29(3), pages 343-383, July.
    2. Luciano Ciravegna & Federica Nieri, 2022. "Business and Human Rights: A Configurational View of the Antecedents of Human Rights Infringements by Emerging Market Firms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 179(2), pages 431-450, August.
    3. Naghmeh Nasiritousi & Mattias Hjerpe & Björn-Ola Linnér, 2016. "The roles of non-state actors in climate change governance: understanding agency through governance profiles," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 109-126, February.
    4. Jean-Noël Chauvey & Sophie Giordano-Spring & Charles Cho & Dennis Patten, 2015. "The Normativity and Legitimacy of CSR Disclosure: Evidence from France," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 130(4), pages 789-803, September.
    5. McGaughey, Fiona & Voss, Hinrich & Cullen, Holly & Davis, Matthew C, 2022. "Corporate Responses to Tackling Modern Slavery: A Comparative Analysis of Australia, France and the United Kingdom," Business and Human Rights Journal, Cambridge University Press, vol. 7(2), pages 249-270, June.
    6. COSSART, Sandra & CHAPLIER, Jérôme & BEAU DE LOMENIE, Tiphaine, 2017. "The French Law on Duty of Care: A Historic Step Towards Making Globalization Work for All," Business and Human Rights Journal, Cambridge University Press, vol. 2(2), pages 317-323, July.
    7. Arno Kourula & Markus Paukku & Andrew Peterman & Mikko Koria, 2019. "Intermediary roles in regulatory programs: Toward a role‐based framework," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 13(2), pages 141-156, June.
    8. Emma Avetisyan & Michel Ferrary, 2013. "Dynamics of Stakeholders’ Implications in the Institutionalization of the CSR Field in France and in the United States," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 115(1), pages 115-133, June.
    9. Wettstein, Florian, 2012. "CSR and the Debate on Business and Human Rights: Bridging the Great Divide," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 22(4), pages 739-770, October.
    10. Jenny Fairbrass, 2011. "Exploring Corporate Social Responsibility Policy in the European Union: A Discursive Institutionalist Analysis," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(5), pages 949-970, September.
    11. Andreas Georg Scherer & Guido Palazzo, 2011. "The New Political Role of Business in a Globalized World: A Review of a New Perspective on CSR and its Implications for the Firm, Governance, and Democracy," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(4), pages 899-931, June.
    12. Julie Battilana & Bernard Leca & Eva Boxenbaum, 2009. "How actors change institutions : Towards a theory of institutional entrepreneurship," Post-Print hal-00576509, HAL.
    13. César González-Cantón & Sonia Boulos & Pablo Sánchez-Garrido, 2019. "Exploring the Link Between Human Rights, the Capability Approach and Corporate Responsibility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 160(4), pages 865-879, December.
    14. SAVOUREY, Elsa & BRABANT, Stéphane, 2021. "The French Law on the Duty of Vigilance: Theoretical and Practical Challenges Since its Adoption," Business and Human Rights Journal, Cambridge University Press, vol. 6(1), pages 141-152, February.
    15. Dror Etzion & Fabrizio Ferraro, 2010. "The Role of Analogy in the Institutionalization of Sustainability Reporting," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 21(5), pages 1092-1107, October.
    16. Gregory Jackson & Julia Bartosch & Emma Avetisyan & Daniel Kinderman & Jette Steen Knudsen, 2020. "Mandatory Non-financial Disclosure and Its Influence on CSR: An International Comparison," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 162(2), pages 323-342, March.
    17. Peterman, Andrew & Kourula, Arno & Levitt, Raymond, 2014. "Balancing act: Government roles in an energy conservation network," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(6), pages 1067-1082.
    18. Mäkinen, Jukka & Kourula, Arno, 2012. "Pluralism in Political Corporate Social Responsibility," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 22(4), pages 649-678, October.
    19. Niklas Egels-Zandén & Jeroen Merk, 2014. "Private Regulation and Trade Union Rights: Why Codes of Conduct Have Limited Impact on Trade Union Rights," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 123(3), pages 461-473, September.
    20. Alice Evans, 2020. "Overcoming the global despondency trap: strengthening corporate accountability in supply chains," Review of International Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(3), pages 658-685, May.
    21. Wright, April L. & Zammuto, Raymond F., 2013. "Creating opportunities for institutional entrepreneurship: The Colonel and the Cup in English County Cricket," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 51-68.
    22. repec:dau:papers:123456789/1478 is not listed on IDEAS
    23. PALOMBO, Dalia, 2019. "The Duty of Care of the Parent Company: A Comparison between French Law, UK Precedents and the Swiss Proposals," Business and Human Rights Journal, Cambridge University Press, vol. 4(2), pages 265-286, July.
    24. David Risi & Christopher Wickert, 2017. "Reconsidering the ‘Symmetry’ Between Institutionalization and Professionalization: The Case of Corporate Social Responsibility Managers," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(5), pages 613-646, July.
    25. Arno Kourula & Guillaume Delalieux, 2016. "The Micro-level Foundations and Dynamics of Political Corporate Social Responsibility: Hegemony and Passive Revolution through Civil Society," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 135(4), pages 769-785, June.
    26. Andrew Peterman & Arno Kourula & Raymond Levitt, 2020. "Organizational roles in a sustainability alliance network," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(8), pages 3314-3330, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Elbasha, Tamim & Avetisyan, Emma, 2018. "A framework to study strategizing activities at the field level: The example of CSR rating agencies," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 38-46.
    2. Maria Ehrnström-Fuentes & Steffen Böhm, 2023. "The Political Ontology of Corporate Social Responsibility: Obscuring the Pluriverse in Place," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 185(2), pages 245-261, June.
    3. Mathieu Alemany Oliver, 2020. "Navigating Between the Plots: A Narratological and Ethical Analysis of Business-Related Conspiracy Theories (BrCTs)," Post-Print hal-03289831, HAL.
    4. Marjo Elisa Siltaoja, 2014. "Revising the Corporate Social Performance Model – Towards Knowledge Creation for Sustainable Development," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 23(5), pages 289-302, July.
    5. Verena Girschik, 2020. "Managing Legitimacy in Business‐Driven Social Change: The Role of Relational Work," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 57(4), pages 775-804, June.
    6. Luciano Ciravegna & Federica Nieri, 2022. "Business and Human Rights: A Configurational View of the Antecedents of Human Rights Infringements by Emerging Market Firms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 179(2), pages 431-450, August.
    7. Lopatta, Kerstin & Tideman, Sebastian A. & Scheil, Carolin & Makarem, Naser, 2023. "The current state of corporate human rights disclosure of the global top 500 business enterprises: Measurement and determinants," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    8. Judith Schrempf-Stirling, 2018. "State Power: Rethinking the Role of the State in Political Corporate Social Responsibility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 150(1), pages 1-14, June.
    9. Stephanie Schrage & Dirk Ulrich Gilbert, 2021. "Addressing Governance Gaps in Global Value Chains: Introducing a Systematic Typology," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 170(4), pages 657-672, May.
    10. Mathieu Alemany Oliver, 2022. "Navigating Between the Plots: A Narratological and Ethical Analysis of Business-Related Conspiracy Theories (BrCTs)," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 175(2), pages 265-288, January.
    11. Pasi Heikkurinen & Jukka Mäkinen, 2018. "Synthesising Corporate Responsibility on Organisational and Societal Levels of Analysis: An Integrative Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 149(3), pages 589-607, May.
    12. Yossi Dahan & Hanna Lerner & Faina Milman-Sivan, 2023. "Shared Responsibility and Labor Rights in Global Supply Chains," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 182(4), pages 1025-1040, February.
    13. Gregory Jackson & Julia Bartosch & Emma Avetisyan & Daniel Kinderman & Jette Steen Knudsen, 2020. "Mandatory Non-financial Disclosure and Its Influence on CSR: An International Comparison," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 162(2), pages 323-342, March.
    14. Sarah Margaretha Jastram & Alkis Henri Otto & Tatjana Minulla, 2023. "Diverse Organizational Adoption of Institutions in the Field of Corporate Social Responsibility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 183(4), pages 1073-1088, April.
    15. David Monciardini & Guido Conaldi, 2019. "The European regulation of corporate social responsibility: The role of beneficiaries' intermediaries," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 13(2), pages 240-259, June.
    16. Julia Rotter & Peppi-Emilia Airike & Cecilia Mark-Herbert, 2014. "Exploring Political Corporate Social Responsibility in Global Supply Chains," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 125(4), pages 581-599, December.
    17. Arno Kourula & Guillaume Delalieux, 2016. "The Micro-level Foundations and Dynamics of Political Corporate Social Responsibility: Hegemony and Passive Revolution through Civil Society," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 135(4), pages 769-785, June.
    18. Aikaterini Argyrou & Nicolas Chevrollier & Andre Nijhof, 2023. "The versatile role of sustainable market entrepreneurs in market transformation: An intervention framework for institutional change," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 259-273, January.
    19. Mikkel Kruuse & Kasper Reming Tangbæk & Kristjan Jespersen & Caleb Gallemore, 2019. "Navigating Input and Output Legitimacy in Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives: Institutional Stewards at Work," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-27, November.
    20. Thomas M Maak & Nicola M Pless & Christian Voegtlin, 2016. "Business Statesman or Shareholder Advocate? CEO Responsible Leadership Styles and the Micro-Foundations of Political CSR," Post-Print hal-01480535, HAL.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:190:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1007_s10551-023-05413-0. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.