CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP
MNN3701
According to Matten and Crane, Corporate Citizenship is defined as the P5
‘role of the corporation in administering citizenship rights for individuals.’
Three different classes of Citizenship Rights P6
Social rights (positive rights) would include things like the right to education, health care, and housing.
Civil rights (negative rights) would focus on the protection of citizens against intrusions on their freedoms.
Freedom of speech, thought and religion would fall into this category.
Political rights include all of the rights necessary to allow citizens to participate in the formulation of public
policies and practices by which society is governed. Things like the right to vote would be included here.
The Capitalist stance towards corporate citizenship P8
Privately owned entities are ultimately engaged in the pursuit of profit for the owners.
Brundtland’s definition of Sustainable Development P24
‘Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs.’
There are 4 key conditions for sustainable development that can be identified in this definition. To be
sustainable, development must:
- Contribute towards fulfilling the needs that will ensure a better quality of life for this generation;
- Be as equitable as possible;
- Respect ecosystem limits; and
- Build a foundation for future generations to meet their needs.
The social interlock refers to the convergence of the environmental perspective with the social perspective.
The three elements of sustainable development P25
Society
Refers to people living in a particular country or region as a nation, where they share customs, common
traditions, values, laws, activities and interests. Humanity in its entirety is society.
The environment
In sustainable development, ‘environment’ refers to the natural environment – the biosphere in which
humanity and all other life on earth exists.
The economy
The term ‘economy’ is used when referring to a community’s system for using its resources to produce
wealth. (Energy, Consumption and Globalisation are nowadays considered as drivers of economic growth.)
1
, Society’s Ecological Footprint P29
Society’s ecological footprint (EF) is the amount of land that would be required to provide the natural
resources consumed by a population.
Conventional Triple Bottom Line Thinking vs The “Real” Hierarchy of Dependence
The equality and balance of the three pillars (society, environment, economy) which constitute the triple
bottom line can be argued by 2 different schools of thought namely, Conventional Triple Bottom Line
Thinking and The ‘Real’ Hierarchy of Dependence.
Conventional Triple Bottom Line Thinking
- Implies that trade-offs or balances can be reached (pollute a river, to gain in profit & employ more).
- Believes strict environmental regulation is bad for business and in turn is bad for employment.
- Ignores society’s dependence on the environment.
- Believes society’s wellbeing is dependent on the financial system.
The ‘Real’ Hierarchy of Dependence
- Argues we are totally dependent on the environment (Real Hierarchy of Dependence).
- Emphasises society can have total control over the financial system (don’t like it, change it).
- Only one environment. “If you are not sure you can fix it, don’t break it”, Precautionary Principle.
Views of Sustainability P32
Weak sustainability
People with this view consider natural and human capital as substitutable with each other.
Strong sustainability
People with this view believe that human capital cannot substitute the multitude of processes of natural
capital which are vital to human existence. (pro sustainable development)
Different Perspectives towards sustainable development
Reformist
Reformism is a political doctrine advocating the reform of an existing system or institution instead of its
abolition. (not applicable to sustainable development)
Ecofeminist
Ecofeminism is a philosophical theory which combines ecological concerns with feminist ones, regarding
both as resulting from male domination of society. (not applicable to sustainable development)
Ecosocialist
Eco-socialism is concerned specifically with ecological issues, based on the belief that capitalism is harmful
to both society and the environment. (transformation with sustainable development)
Deep ecologist
Deep ecology is based in the belief that humans must radically change their relationship to nature from one
that values nature solely for its usefulness to human beings to one that recognizes that nature has an
inherent value. (transformation with sustainable development)
2
MNN3701
According to Matten and Crane, Corporate Citizenship is defined as the P5
‘role of the corporation in administering citizenship rights for individuals.’
Three different classes of Citizenship Rights P6
Social rights (positive rights) would include things like the right to education, health care, and housing.
Civil rights (negative rights) would focus on the protection of citizens against intrusions on their freedoms.
Freedom of speech, thought and religion would fall into this category.
Political rights include all of the rights necessary to allow citizens to participate in the formulation of public
policies and practices by which society is governed. Things like the right to vote would be included here.
The Capitalist stance towards corporate citizenship P8
Privately owned entities are ultimately engaged in the pursuit of profit for the owners.
Brundtland’s definition of Sustainable Development P24
‘Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs.’
There are 4 key conditions for sustainable development that can be identified in this definition. To be
sustainable, development must:
- Contribute towards fulfilling the needs that will ensure a better quality of life for this generation;
- Be as equitable as possible;
- Respect ecosystem limits; and
- Build a foundation for future generations to meet their needs.
The social interlock refers to the convergence of the environmental perspective with the social perspective.
The three elements of sustainable development P25
Society
Refers to people living in a particular country or region as a nation, where they share customs, common
traditions, values, laws, activities and interests. Humanity in its entirety is society.
The environment
In sustainable development, ‘environment’ refers to the natural environment – the biosphere in which
humanity and all other life on earth exists.
The economy
The term ‘economy’ is used when referring to a community’s system for using its resources to produce
wealth. (Energy, Consumption and Globalisation are nowadays considered as drivers of economic growth.)
1
, Society’s Ecological Footprint P29
Society’s ecological footprint (EF) is the amount of land that would be required to provide the natural
resources consumed by a population.
Conventional Triple Bottom Line Thinking vs The “Real” Hierarchy of Dependence
The equality and balance of the three pillars (society, environment, economy) which constitute the triple
bottom line can be argued by 2 different schools of thought namely, Conventional Triple Bottom Line
Thinking and The ‘Real’ Hierarchy of Dependence.
Conventional Triple Bottom Line Thinking
- Implies that trade-offs or balances can be reached (pollute a river, to gain in profit & employ more).
- Believes strict environmental regulation is bad for business and in turn is bad for employment.
- Ignores society’s dependence on the environment.
- Believes society’s wellbeing is dependent on the financial system.
The ‘Real’ Hierarchy of Dependence
- Argues we are totally dependent on the environment (Real Hierarchy of Dependence).
- Emphasises society can have total control over the financial system (don’t like it, change it).
- Only one environment. “If you are not sure you can fix it, don’t break it”, Precautionary Principle.
Views of Sustainability P32
Weak sustainability
People with this view consider natural and human capital as substitutable with each other.
Strong sustainability
People with this view believe that human capital cannot substitute the multitude of processes of natural
capital which are vital to human existence. (pro sustainable development)
Different Perspectives towards sustainable development
Reformist
Reformism is a political doctrine advocating the reform of an existing system or institution instead of its
abolition. (not applicable to sustainable development)
Ecofeminist
Ecofeminism is a philosophical theory which combines ecological concerns with feminist ones, regarding
both as resulting from male domination of society. (not applicable to sustainable development)
Ecosocialist
Eco-socialism is concerned specifically with ecological issues, based on the belief that capitalism is harmful
to both society and the environment. (transformation with sustainable development)
Deep ecologist
Deep ecology is based in the belief that humans must radically change their relationship to nature from one
that values nature solely for its usefulness to human beings to one that recognizes that nature has an
inherent value. (transformation with sustainable development)
2
