Discord is Caused by Those Who Posses - On CSR Discourse

The purpose of this thesis is to describe the discursive development and to investigate the political consequences of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Since its origins in the United States in the 1950s, CSR has developed into a symbolic powerhouse, affecting corporations, governments and peoples. CSR as a concept provides a convincing common-sense argument: why should the affluent not contribute to the public good while still being able to make a profit? My argument is that rather than providing a solution to our predicaments (e.g. environmental crisis, massively unequal distribution of resources), CSR is a symptom telling us that something is ‘not right’. Using discourse theory, this thesis analyzes Business Administration literature in order to map out the development of CSR. The analysis constructs two main discourses: Autonomy CSR discourse which primarily serves as a strategy for business to maintain its autonomous position within the social structure, and Legitimacy CSR discourse which goal it is to construct legitimacy for the autonomy given to corporations in late capitalism. The conclusion of the thesis is that Legitimacy CSR discourse (the discourse of present day) is ill equipped to significantly alter the system we inhabit, and thus provides few long-term solutions to our predicament.The purpose of this thesis is to describe the discursive development and to investigate the political consequences of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Since its origins in the United States in the 1950s, CSR has developed into a symbolic powerhouse, affecting corporations, governments and peoples. CSR as a concept provides a convincing common-sense argument: why should the affluent not contribute to the public good while still being able to make a profit? My argument is that rather than providing a solution to our predicaments (e.g. environmental crisis, massively unequal distribution of resources), CSR is a symptom telling us that something is ‘not right’. Using discourse theory, this thesis analyzes Business Administration literature in order to map out the development of CSR. The analysis constructs two main discourses: Autonomy CSR discourse which primarily serves as a strategy for business to maintain its autonomous position within the social structure, and Legitimacy CSR discourse which goal it is to construct legitimacy for the autonomy given to corporations in late capitalism. The conclusion of the thesis is that Legitimacy CSR discourse (the discourse of present day) is ill equipped to significantly alter the system we inhabit, and thus provides few long-term solutions to our predicament