Introduction- viewing CSR through legal lens? -- Defining corporate social responsibility -- Legitimacy of power as core to CSR -- Law, structure, and legitimacy -- Why not corporate law? -- Proposing a law-jobs approach -- Exemplifying a law-jobs approach : Shell in Nigeria

Corporate Social Responsibility, Human Rights and the Law examines the responsibilities of business enterprises for human rights from a legal perspective. It analyses the legal status of the ‘corporate responsibility to respect human rights’ as articulated by the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). This concept currently reflects an international consensus and is promoted by the UN. The book contemplates the various founding perspectives of the UNGPs, and how the integration of notions such as ‘principled pragmatism’ and ‘polycentric governance’ within its framework provides insights into the future course of law and policy, compliance, and corporate respect for human rights. The book thus takes a global focus, examining the interaction of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), human rights, and the law in a broader global governance context. Setting out a possible future scenario for the legalization of the corporate responsibility to respect human rights that is informed by the UNGPs' founding perspectives and reflects current realities in the human rights landscape, this book will be of great interest to scholars of business ethics, international human rights law, and CSR more broadly.

The current theory of corporate social responsibility (CSR) is developing along three interwoven lines - oral, social, and environmental. Although everybody recognizes that although CSR is of growing concern in a globalized economy, it being at the top of the board of director's agenda and also good for business, there is no sign of consensus on its rules, structures, or procedures. Now, this collection of essays by leading jurists, businesspeople, and academics takes a giant step toward a more cohesive and durable set of principles that can contribute to a cleaner environment and a better society while respecting and protecting the interests of all stakeholders.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), which began as a theoretical concept, has sparked a significant cultural revolution. The ongoing debate on CSR reveals how a company’s social interest is intertwined with specific forms of governance and organizational culture, influenced by competitive dynamics and entrepreneurial choices. The volume traces the transition from the economic action of a few companies enlightened, pioneering companies that were the first to adopt soft law tools in the field of CSR, such as codes of ethics and conduct, international standards of production and care of the various stakeholders, to the consolidation of a set of CSR rules that today are fully part of hard law into binding legal frameworks. This transition has been driven by growing public concern over social and environmental issues and sealed by careful legislative work by the Community institutions. It can only be fully appreciated through a necessary reading, in a comparative key, of the legislation in force on CSR in various European countries and of the particularly emblematic cases submitted in recent times to the Courts.

In a dramatic departure from its voluntary origins, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is rapidly shifting to hold multinational companies accountable for more than traditional shareholder performance. This CSR movement is embracing new environmental, social and governance (ESG) frameworks that both promote global sustainability goals and enhance accountability for negative impacts businesses can have on ‘planet and people’. This collection of essays by leading businesspeople, international civil servants, legal practitioners, academics, and other experts offers a forward-looking and pragmatic perspective that illuminates the major themes in this movement towards increasingly sustainable, transparent and accountable business practices. The collection shows how CSR has evolved to account for societal pressures, environmental, climate change and human rights impacts, international policy imperatives and the practical challenges of regulating commercial activity that transcends borders. The chapters offer an in-depth examination of current issues including: international frameworks and multistakeholder initiatives catalysing foundational change; the shifting emphasis on corporate imperatives to avoid harm to third parties; trends in CSR, focused on assuring the planet's future sustainability and social stability; regulatory initiatives around the globe, including Europe, North America, Asia and Africa; and extended accountability for activities of corporate group members and supply chains. The pressure and business case for companies to incorporate CSR into corporate governance is intensifying with each quarter, shareholder meeting, and regulatory agenda. The integration of CSR and new ESG frameworks into multinational corporate strategy and operations is key to sustainable business models that can generate long-term value for the organization and all stakeholders. Their acceptance as cornerstones of 21st century business practice appears inevitable. Taking full account of the imperative for companies and their lawyers to grapple with the practical and legal challenges in this area, this volume is an invaluable and pragmatic addition to the practitioners’ toolbox at this important juncture in an ever-more dynamic field.

This book examines the law and its development trends in the area of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Vietnam. It is an important reference in implementing the requirements of CPTPP and EVFTA in Vietnam, and it is also very important in improving the legal framework in Vietnam to comply with international standards, especially in the areas of labor, environment and consumer protection, and in raising awareness of CSR among Vietnamese companies. Many articles in this book analyze and assess the legal status of CSR, thus providing a number of constructive suggestions for improving the relevant laws in Vietnam. Corporate social responsibility is not only the contribution of corporate philanthropy to society, but also the compliance of companies with international standards and national laws in the fields of labor, environment, investment, labor security, social security, etc. Against the backdrop of Vietnam's growing international integration, the requirement of corporate social responsibility has been, and continues to be, paramount in business activities. It is not only a need at the enterprise level, but is also related to the internationalization of international standards and the improvement of national laws on CSR.