Beyond corporate social irresponsibility

Abstract

We are moving through a phase where global crises, like the food crisis, fuel crisis, finance crisis, poverty crisis and climate crisis follow one another in an almost monotonous procession. While differences of opinion might prevail about the real causes of these crises few would deny that business contributed to each and all of them. This realisation has once more fuelled the debate about whether capitalism as such is in a serious crisis. While opinions over this question might once more divide, there is little doubt that at least certain forms of capitalism are in crisis. The regular calls for greater regulation of business that resounds around the world testifies to this awareness. The responses by business to all these crises are very often impressive and innovative. But it is well possible that these responses – innovative as they may be – neither fundamentally challenge the way in which corporations are being run, nor the relationship between business and society. And this is what is problematic about the current corporate response to the series of crises that we are moving through. Albert Einstein’s statement that “a problem cannot be solved from the same consciousness that created it” becomes particularly relevant in this situation.