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Particularizing Nonhuman Nature in Stakeholder Theory: The Recognition Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Teea Kortetmäki

    (Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy
    School of Resource Wisdom)

  • Anna Heikkinen

    (Tampere University)

  • Ari Jokinen

    (Tampere University)

Abstract

Stakeholder theory has grown into one of the most frequent approaches to organizational sustainability. Stakeholder research has provided considerable insight on organization–nature relations, and advanced approaches that consider the intrinsic value of nonhuman nature. However, nonhuman nature is typically approached as an ambiguous, unified entity. Taking nonhumans adequately into account requires greater detail for both grounding the status of nonhumans and particularizing nonhuman entities as a set of potential organizational stakeholders with different characteristics, vulnerabilities, and needs. We utilize the philosophical concept of ‘recognition’ to provide a normative underpinning for stakeholder theorizing on nonhuman nature in both universal and difference-sensitive terms. We discuss how the status model of recognition helps identify relevant nonhumans as organizational stakeholders, establish respect, and particularize nonhumans in their distinctiveness and in partner-like ways. The implications of the recognition approach for stakeholder research are explicated with an illustrative case that exemplifies the recognition and particularization of nonhuman nature. We contribute to stakeholder research on nonhuman nature by suggesting that recognition provides a conceptual tool for theorizing the stakeholder status and particularization of nonhuman nature. Thereby, this article reduces anthropocentric bias and increases the capacity of stakeholder theorizing to confront the challenges of the ecological crisis.

Suggested Citation

  • Teea Kortetmäki & Anna Heikkinen & Ari Jokinen, 2023. "Particularizing Nonhuman Nature in Stakeholder Theory: The Recognition Approach," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 185(1), pages 17-31, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:185:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s10551-022-05174-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-022-05174-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Seray Ergene & Marta B. Calás & Linda Smircich, 2018. "Ecologies of Sustainable Concerns: Organization Theorizing for the Anthropocene," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(3), pages 222-245, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Wang Zihan & Zafir Khan Mohamed Makhbul & Syed Shah Alam, 2024. "Green Human Resource Management in Practice: Assessing the Impact of Readiness and Corporate Social Responsibility on Organizational Change," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-25, January.

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