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J Bus Ethics (2012) 106:191211 DOI 10.1007/s10551-011-0989-4
Stakeholder Perspectives on CSR of Mining MNCs in Argentina
Natalia Yakovleva Diego Vazquez-Brust
Received: 18 August 2010 / Accepted: 29 July 2011 / Published online: 28 August 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011
Abstract This article examines the conceptualisation of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the context of mining multinationals (MNCs) in Argentina. It explores the suitability of CSR for addressing social, environmental and economic issues associated with mining in the country. The study is based on interviews with four stakeholder groups in the country: government, civil society, international nancial organisations, and mining industry. These are analysed using content and interpretative techniques and supplemented by the content analysis of secondary data from headquarters of mining MNCs. Using the concept of corporate social responsibility orientation (CSRO), the study contrasts the perceptions of major stakeholders and examines adaptation of mining companies CSRO to local context. It reveals that the CSRO of mining managers in Argentina differs from CSRO developed by global headquarters; and in Argentina companies negotiate economic, environmental and legal dimensions of CSR with the government. Although companies negotiate philanthropic responsibilities with the communities, ethical responsibilities are dened by the headquarters and not negotiated locally. The analysis suggests that environmental duties are the critical element of CSR in the mining sector in Argentina. This study treats environment as a
separate dimension of corporate responsibility dened as to do what is safe for the environment.
Keywords Corporate social responsibility Corporate
social responsibility orientation Mining Stakeholders
Introduction
Recent studies illuminate variations in the conceptualisation and construction of corporate social responsibility (CSR) across industrial sectors and geographical contexts (Orpen 1987; Burton et al. 2000; Maignan 2001; Silberhorn and Warren 2007; Pedersen 2010; Visser and Tolhurst 2010). Perceptions of CSR and emphases on its dimensions differ depending on geographical location (see Maignan 2001; Burton et al. 2000; Lindgreen and Crdoba 2010). Burton et al. (2000) explain that different cultures emphasise different values, and these values affect what society expects from institutions and what roles institutions assume within society. At the same time, a drive for standardisation of CSR in multinational companies (MNCs) is specically prominent (Puppim de Oliveira and Gardetti 2006; Bloweld and Murray 2008; Crane et al. 2008).
Corporate social responsibility orientation...