Universalizing Corporate Social Responsibility? South African Challenges to the International Organization for Standardization's New Social Responsibility Standard

MNC Reporting on CSR and Conflict in Central Africa

“…The definition of CSR in the African context has been the subject of academic attention (Egels,6 2005; Hamman et al, 2005;Hamman and Kapelus, 2004;Idemudia and Ite, 2006;Ojo, 2008;Visser, 2006b). Most scholars agree that the specific context matters because CSR is locally rooted (Hamman et al, 2005), and the product of historical and cultural factors (Idemudia and Ite, 2006).…”

“…Most scholars agree that the specific context matters because CSR is locally rooted (Hamman et al, 2005), and the product of historical and cultural factors (Idemudia and Ite, 2006). Africa is specific in a sense because it is a continent marked by conflicts, environmental degradation, and dire poverty, thus presenting MNCs with the ethical dilemma of prioritizing their overall social responsibilities (De Jongh and Prinsloo, 2005) in line with local needs.…”

“Does race really matter?” Consumer identity and advertising effectiveness in post-apartheid South Africa

“…Indeed, although the end of the apartheid regime accelerated the emergence of a black middle class and, in so doing, diminished interracial inequality, it also increased intraracial inequality (Hamann, Agbazue, Kapelus & Hein, 2005). Considering this growing inequality, the similarity perceived by the viewer with the model might not be simply a function of the perceived race of the model.…”

The Perceptions Of Employees In A Private Higher Education Institution Towards Corporate Social Responsibility

“…Poverty alleviation is a target of the current ANC government, and businesses are expected to contribute to this process. The recently launched JSE Socially Responsible Investment Index and the King Report on Corporate Governance are indications of the pressure on the South African corporate sector to be socially responsible (De Jongh, 2004;Hamann, Agbazue, Kapelus & Hein, 2005). As it is, research conducted by Trialogue shows that South African businesses spent R2,35 billion on CSR in 2003, (The CSI Handbook, 2003).…”

“…South African organisations are making progress towards more CSR and similar investments, but many businesses still need to see whether benefits are in store for them as a result of these investments. Hamann et al (2005) argue that sustainable development challenges are not unique to the South African situation and that the debates related to CSR in South Africa are characterized by the particular prominence of certain priority issues, such as affirmative action, skills development and HIV/Aids" (2005, p. 5). Research conducted in other parts of the world shows that there are differing perceptions of the role that business should play in the CSR arena.…”