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Corporate Social Responsibility, Private Law and Global Supply Chains
This insightful book demonstrates that private law makes a significant contribution to the promotion of corporate social responsibility (CSR), but that with certain changes this contribution could be better. Based on the analysis of four substantive areas (company law/corporate governance, contract law, consumer law and tort law), the book covers a full range of issues that are important for CSR. These include directors’ duties, corporate reporting, the incorporation of CSR policies into the supply chain, consumer rights and the tortious liabilities of companies.
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Critical Acclaim
Contributors
Contents
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Current debate surrounding social responsibility has neglected to fully comprehend the important role of national private law in achieving socially responsible conduct in business. This insightful book demonstrates how private law makes a significant contribution to the promotion of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and how it could be improved.
Based on the analysis of four substantive areas (company law/corporate governance, contract law, consumer law and tort law), this inclusive book covers a full range of issues that are important for CSR. These include directors’ duties, corporate reporting, the incorporation of CSR policies into the supply chain, consumer rights and the tortious liabilities of companies. The book discerns how national private law in the home state of multinational enterprises can legally affect their socially responsible conduct worldwide. Andreas Rühmkorf demonstrates that private law already promotes and, with certain amendments, could better promote CSR in the regulation of global supply chains. The book''s findings are applied to the collapse of the Rana Plaza Building in Bangladesh, which offers a supportive empirical insight.
As an up-to-date and comprehensive survey of CSR and global supply chains, this work will benefit researchers and practitioners interested in the fields of CSR, private law, international law, political economy, international labour standards and sustainable supply chains.
Based on the analysis of four substantive areas (company law/corporate governance, contract law, consumer law and tort law), this inclusive book covers a full range of issues that are important for CSR. These include directors’ duties, corporate reporting, the incorporation of CSR policies into the supply chain, consumer rights and the tortious liabilities of companies. The book discerns how national private law in the home state of multinational enterprises can legally affect their socially responsible conduct worldwide. Andreas Rühmkorf demonstrates that private law already promotes and, with certain amendments, could better promote CSR in the regulation of global supply chains. The book''s findings are applied to the collapse of the Rana Plaza Building in Bangladesh, which offers a supportive empirical insight.
As an up-to-date and comprehensive survey of CSR and global supply chains, this work will benefit researchers and practitioners interested in the fields of CSR, private law, international law, political economy, international labour standards and sustainable supply chains.
Critical Acclaim
‘Rühmkorf provides a valued addition in understanding the benefits of a holistic CSR business model and a company’s duty as a socially responsible international market participant. In his book Corporate Social Responsibility, Private Law and Global Supply Chains, Dr. Andreas Rühmkorf, a lawyer and professor of commercial law, proposes how English private law can be used to ensure corporations that utilize global supply chains are held accountable for violations of their own corporate governance. Rühmkorf’s work will be of use to those interested in Corporate Social Responsibility, and the law, economics and politics surrounding international supply chains.’
– Patricia M. Muhammad, International Social Science Review
‘Rühmkorf’s thought-provoking book has a powerful message: that we cannot rely on the discretion of business to promote CSR voluntarily. Through the devastating example of the Rana Plaza disaster, Rühmkorf shows that we must get beyond business rhetoric and develop a multidimensional approach to the regulation of global supply chains. Whilst recognising the existing limitations of private law, his book highlights the potential contribution of private law to the development and promotion of CSR. The task is not an easy one, but by adopting a pluralistic approach to corporate law and by employing contract law, consumer law and tort law more dynamically, English private law could fill many of the regulatory gaps. The message is urgent and strong. This is a must read book for anyone concerned with CSR, supply chains and the law.’
– Charlotte Villiers, University of Bristol, UK
‘This book fills an important gap in discussions of international CSR standards. It is all very well to say that states must protect and companies should respect human rights, but when breaches of human rights do occur, it is remedies that matter. Rühmkorf explores the limits of private law avenues for seeking such remedies. In so doing, he provides a valuable understanding of obstacles to fuller realization of the three-pillared ''Protect, Respect and Remedy'' Framework of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.’
– Alice de Jonge, Monash University, Australia
‘This book, Corporate Social Responsibility, Private Law and Global Supply Chains by Dr. Andreas Rühmkorf, makes a considerable contribution to the literature on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). . . .I would recommend the book very strongly to all academics and postgraduate students interested in company and corporations law. The book is focused on an important aspect, CSR, in the wider debate and worldwide realisation that companies should move away from “short-termism” and focus on long-term and sustainable growth and should be responsible citizens! . . . ’
– Jean J. du Plessis, Deakin Law School, Deakin University, Australia
‘This book offers a broad and deep analysis of the topic; and it could be of interest for researchers and student researchers as well as for directors and non-executive directors, company secretaries and officers dealing with the ongoing analysis of corporate social responsibility.’
– International Company and Commercial Law Review
– Patricia M. Muhammad, International Social Science Review
‘Rühmkorf’s thought-provoking book has a powerful message: that we cannot rely on the discretion of business to promote CSR voluntarily. Through the devastating example of the Rana Plaza disaster, Rühmkorf shows that we must get beyond business rhetoric and develop a multidimensional approach to the regulation of global supply chains. Whilst recognising the existing limitations of private law, his book highlights the potential contribution of private law to the development and promotion of CSR. The task is not an easy one, but by adopting a pluralistic approach to corporate law and by employing contract law, consumer law and tort law more dynamically, English private law could fill many of the regulatory gaps. The message is urgent and strong. This is a must read book for anyone concerned with CSR, supply chains and the law.’
– Charlotte Villiers, University of Bristol, UK
‘This book fills an important gap in discussions of international CSR standards. It is all very well to say that states must protect and companies should respect human rights, but when breaches of human rights do occur, it is remedies that matter. Rühmkorf explores the limits of private law avenues for seeking such remedies. In so doing, he provides a valuable understanding of obstacles to fuller realization of the three-pillared ''Protect, Respect and Remedy'' Framework of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.’
– Alice de Jonge, Monash University, Australia
‘This book, Corporate Social Responsibility, Private Law and Global Supply Chains by Dr. Andreas Rühmkorf, makes a considerable contribution to the literature on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). . . .I would recommend the book very strongly to all academics and postgraduate students interested in company and corporations law. The book is focused on an important aspect, CSR, in the wider debate and worldwide realisation that companies should move away from “short-termism” and focus on long-term and sustainable growth and should be responsible citizens! . . . ’
– Jean J. du Plessis, Deakin Law School, Deakin University, Australia
‘This book offers a broad and deep analysis of the topic; and it could be of interest for researchers and student researchers as well as for directors and non-executive directors, company secretaries and officers dealing with the ongoing analysis of corporate social responsibility.’
– International Company and Commercial Law Review
Contributors
Contents
Contents: 1. Corporate Social Responsibility and Private Law 2. Company Law, Corporate Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility 3. Contract Law, Global Supply Chains and Corporate Social Responsibility 4. Consumer Protection Law and Corporate Social Responsibility 5. Tort Law and Corporate Social Responsibility 6. The Promotion of Corporate Social Responsibility in English Private Law 7. The Rana Plaza Building Collapse – Corporate Social Responsibility, Private Law and the Global Supply Chain Bibliography Index
