Corporate social responsibility, hydraulic fracturing and unregulated space: recognising responsibility without the law

Abstract

This paper considers the role of legal regulation in assessing the actions of firms in relation to CSR. Utilising recent legal developments surrounding the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing ('fracking') as an illustrative example of the issue, it questions whether judging CSR is possible in a legal vacuum. Having established the linkage between CSR and the law the piece moves to illustrate that instances of legal freedom question established conceptions of CSR and warrant a greater exploration of this connection. Whilst instances of this type are conceded as rare, they do question the extent to which, without law, the responsibility for actions can be demonstrated by firms and it is this which the paper highlights.