Special issue on Globalization, sustainable development and socially responsible initiatives in developing countries

Special issue on Globalization, sustainable development and socially responsible initiatives in developing countries

Article Type: Call for papers From: Social Responsibility Journal, Volume 4, Issue 1/2.

Special issue on Globalization, sustainable development and socially responsible initiatives in developing countries Special Issue Guest Editor: Professor Ananda Das Gupta, Associate Professor(HRD area), Indian Institute of Plantation Management, Bangalore, IndiaE-mail: adgiipm@vsnl.netYear of issue: 2009

The global scenario

The growing international and domestic interest in CSR stems largely from the concerns held by many in every society about the real and perceived effects of rapid globalization. The interest has been reflected in the expectation that globalization must proceed in a manner that supports sustainable development in all regions of the world. People insist that the activities of corporations should make a positive contribution not only to the economic development and stability of the countries in which they operate, but also to their social and environmental development. Failure to respond to such an agenda satisfactorily will contribute to increased social tensions, environmental degradation and political upheavals. Good corporate conduct makes an important contribution to sustainable development in any community and thus goes a long way toward responding to the concerns that globalization raises.

Many companies and business associations have recognized the importance of CSR. Not very long ago, the dividing line between business and society appeared to be clearly drawn. According to the economist Milton Friedman, ``There is one and only one social responsibility of business: to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits.'' This view no longer prevails. The CSR agenda is a complex one, requiring co-operation among a wide variety of stakeholders to be addressed effectively. Improved dialogue between the private and non-governmental sectors is one positive pattern emerging from recent corporate social responsibility trends. While early relationships were often characterized by mistrust and misunderstandings that fed a cycle of opposing actions and reactions, today stakeholders are increasingly recognizing the value of multi sector dialogue or partnerships to achieve substantive, long-term reform. Such a dialogue can facilitate a better understanding of the expectations and concerns of key stakeholders, and it can also act as a forum where debates over differences are more about identifying mutually acceptable solutions and practical implementation steps than reiterating entrenched, non-retractable positions. Forward-looking companies and NGOs are working with their stakeholders and, in the process, are benefiting from the expertise of all involved. Responsible development brings major challenges, and no one stakeholder is capable of adequately responding to them alone.

The international community has policy tools to influence business activity within and between nations, and to help ensure that globalization proceeds in a way that benefits all. These tools include legislation and regulatory frameworks, voluntary compliance with an agreed set of standards monitored by a third party, or self-regulation by businesses, often in conformance with voluntary codes of conduct.

Balancing corporate investment with community investment is the way of the future. With growing public interest and concern regarding the sustainability of communities as globalization deepens, it will be necessary to show that the nations are working together to ensure that the activities of the business community make a positive contribution to the communities in which they do business.

With these points in the backdrop, we wish to encourage empirical work as well as big-picture thinking on issues related to the roles that business can play in fostering a moral, equitable and ecologically sustainable world.

Papers are invited which address the theme of this issue. The important aspects include:

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  Ethics and corporate behaviour.

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  Human rights and corporate activity.

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  Sustainability and environmental issues.

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  Impact of ICT in social and economic development.

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  Environmental management and sustainability.

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  Globalization and corporate activity.

  Submission details

  The special issue will be published in late 2009. The deadline for submission of full papers is 15 December 2008, but early submission is encouraged.

  Authors should submit their manuscripts electronically (preferably in Word format) to Ananda, e-mail: adg_iipm@ >vsnl.net Their length should not exceed 9,000 words (including all references, tables, figures, author bios, abstracts and keywords), although in some cases, involving mainly the reporting of qualitative data, longer manuscripts may be accepted.

  The front page should contain the title of the work, list authors' names, affiliations and contacts. All papers will be subject to the normal refereeing process. Authors wishing to discuss their paper prior to submission may contact the Guest Editor.

  Editing details

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  The front page should contain the title of the work, list authors' names, affiliations and contact details.

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  The abstract should contain no more than 300 words.

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  Please use 12pt Times New Roman, 1.5 spaced.

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  All other details can be found at the journal web site: www.emeraldinsight.com/info/journals/srj/notes.jsp