The Enterprise Strategies of European Leaders in Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Europe can be viewed as a social movement that includes leading companies, policy makers, advocates, pressure groups, knowledge institutes (universities and consulting companies), business associations and sections of the investment community (see Chapter 6 of this volume). This movement has many roles and functions. Its main concern is to address the position and responsibilities of business in society. It provides an institutional framework to support and legitimize CSR and its relationship to modern business, a means to develop a better understanding of thinking and practice, and a network through which ideas and practices can be diffused. For example, the European Commission (2002) continues to push for the inclusion of CSR as a key factor in the drive for competitiveness by European companies. A number of leading companies and knowledge institutes have begun to address the theory and practice of CSR and growing number of advisory bodies and groups are promoting corporate responsibility, for example the UN Global Compact and the Global Reporting Initiative.