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Bringing Back the Essence of the “S” and “R” to CSR: Understanding the Limitations of the Merchant Trade and the White Man’s Burden

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  • Caterina Lorenzo-Molo
  • Zenon Udani

Abstract

One of the fundamental struggles in corporate social responsibility (CSR) is the uncertainty and inherent contradictions that stem from a company being an individual legal entity and a community of persons. The authors contend that CSR has departed from the essence of “social responsibility.” The paper is a commentary on CSR, presented as two frameworks rooted in individualism—The Merchant Trade (the strategic view of CSR) and The White Man’s Burden (self-righteous CSR heroism that assumes the shackles of responsibility normally offered by others). Both, however, contradict the essence of “social responsibility” pitting individual against community, business against society, and economic needs and realities versus ethical reflection. The authors present a model that advocates a more moderate and realistic approach to CSR that goes back to the essence of social responsibility. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Caterina Lorenzo-Molo & Zenon Udani, 2013. "Bringing Back the Essence of the “S” and “R” to CSR: Understanding the Limitations of the Merchant Trade and the White Man’s Burden," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 117(1), pages 123-136, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:117:y:2013:i:1:p:123-136
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-012-1513-1
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    1. Fabien Martinez, 2014. "Corporate strategy and the environment: towards a four-dimensional compatibility model for fostering green management decisions," Post-Print hal-02887618, HAL.
    2. Fabien Martinez, 2015. "A Three-Dimensional Conceptual Framework of Corporate Water Responsibility," Post-Print hal-02887624, HAL.
    3. Harald Strotmann & Jürgen Volkert & Melinda Schmidt, 2019. "Multinational companies: can they foster well-being in the eyes of the poor? Results from an empirical case study," International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 1-14, December.

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