Making it legit: New ways of generating corporate legitimacy in a globalising world

What Explains the Uneven Take-Up of ISO 14001 at the Global Level? A Panel-Data Analysis

“…The level of demand from civil society and market actors are individually statistically significant determinants of ISO 14001 certification counts in our estimations. Reinforcing the findings of recent work, therefore, the present study shows that non-state actors can indeed function as surrogate "regulators" encouraging firms to adopt beyond-compliance codes of conduct (Rodgers, 2000;World Bank, 2000). 5 Moreover, challenging critics who suggest that trade and investment liberalisation are inimical to heightened environmental commitment, the findings of the present research suggest that they can actually strengthen it.…”

“…Not only are they acting as surrogate enforcement officials, putting pressure on corporations to adhere to regulatory norms, but NGOs are also taking a lead role in defining norms of appropriate and legitimate environmental behaviour. This, the literature suggests, owes much to the regulatory vacuum created by the failure of public law and enforcement to keep pace with rising environmental demand which has meant that firms must increasingly secure a "licence to operate" directly from civil society by demonstrating their commitment to sound levels of environmental performance (Neale, 1997;Rodgers, 2000;Perry & Singh, 2002).…”

Climate Change and Corporate Environmental Responsibility

“…Environmentally sensitive business organizations are facing new demands to demonstrate their legitimacy as their global reach increases (Grolin, 1998;Rodgers, 2000;Perry and Singh, 2001). So, they are almost becoming bound to act responsibly.…”

Interface Dynamics in Cause-Based Partnerships: An Exploration of Emergent Culture

“…Many nonprofits have been encouraged to become more business-like in response to funders' demands. On the other hand, businesses are enjoined to be more socially responsible; there are growing demands that they be held more accountable for social and environmental problems (Rodgers, 2000) and engage in the resolution of them (Waddock & Smith, 2000). Porter and Kramer (2002) suggested that the potential for simultaneous economic and social benefits draws businesses into strategically targeted involvements with nonprofits (see also Austin, 2000b).…”