ABSTRACT
Global governance, an emerging form of transnational regulation, combines the efforts of public actors such as national governments and international governmental institutions, and private actors such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and corporations. In response to these developments, academia has begun to reconsider the meaning of the role of business in society and ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ (CSR). In the era of globalization, CSR is regarded as a solution for situations in which governments are unable or unwilling to provide public goods or guarantee basic rights. The myriad interpretations of the term ‘CSR’, combined with the lack of democratic oversight of corporations’ political activities in the public sphere, has resulted in a growing scepticism toward CSR activities and initiatives. Rising criticism of CSR initiatives, and questions on the legitimacy of the involvement of corporate actors in political affairs demand analysis. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
