ABSTRACT
The role of business in society is the 21st century's most important and contentious public policy issue. Business's role goes beyond the creation of economic and financial wealth: it is increasingly moulding society's values and norms, and defining public policy and practice. Most governments and public agencies accept as the de facto rules of the game the basic tenets of today's global economy, and the role of the corporate community within it. Corporate citizenship can be superficial and inadequate. Public account also needs to be taken of the underlying citizenship strategy of potential business partners. Third-generation corporate citizenship strategy tries to set out a credible framework for moving forward that builds on what is already there and yet seeks to break down some of the more intractable institutional barriers to success. Government's task is to develop a policy framework that enables it to enhance the delivery of public goods in the context of a globalising political economy.
