United Kingdom an explicit model of business-society relations

Abstract

This study presents UK CSR as part of "societal governance": the system which "provid[es] direction to society" (Peters, 1996: 51 52). It argues that CSR is informed by the contexts provided by government, social regulation and markets. The chapter identifies the roots of modern CSR in nineteenth century business philanthropy. CSR assumed a more implicit role during most of the twentieth century as government increased its direct responsibility for the social impacts of business and for citizenship rights. The recent rapid transformation of businesssociety relations from implicit to explicit CSR is explained first with reference to the crisis in societal governance in the late twentieth century and subsequently to new government regulation, social regulation and market drivers.