Societal transformation processes are causing far-reaching changes in the relationship between businesses and society. The political, economic (information and communications), technological and cultural transfor mation processes lead to the evolution of new types of civil society actors. These necessarily increase the complexity of corporate environments and attempt directly or indirectly to influence their behaviour. Under these conditions, companies are increasingly forced to open up their own organizational boundaries to dia logue and, at the earliest possible stage, to include 'society' as a non-controllable variable. Along with an intensification of the direct relationships between companies and social action groups, a growing number of initiatives have recently evolved, which, often with the support of the state, attempt to create an institution alized dialogue between several companies, unions and non-government organizations (NGOs). The societal transformation processes that form the basis of these interactions as well as necessary and obstructive factors for the success of such multi-stakeholder dialogues will be analyzed in this article.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Balanya, B., A. Doherty, O. Hoedeman, A. Ma'anit and E. Wesselius.2000. Europe Inc. - Regional & Global Restructuring and the Rise of Corporate Power. London: Pluto Press.
2.
Baringhorst, S.1998. Politik als Kampagne. Zur Medialen Erzeugung von Solidarität . Opladen/Wiesbaden : Westdeutscher Verlag.
3.
Boje, D.1998a. While Coyote Meets Roadrunner: Nike's Postmodern Encounters with Entrepreneurial Activists. http://cbae.nmsu.edu/mgt/handout/boje/coyote/index.html (1August 1998).
Brockhaus, M.1996. Gesellschaftsorientierte Kooperationen im Ökologischen Kontext: Perspektiven fiir ein Dynamisches Umweltmanagement. Wiesbaden: Gabler.
6.
Castells, M.1996. The Rise of the Network Society. Massachusetts : Blackwell.
7.
—. 1997. The Power of IdentityMassachusetts : Blackwell.
8.
—. 1998. End of Millennium. Massachusetts: Blackwell.
9.
Centro Nuovo Modello Di Sviluppo.1995. 'Süd-Nord Ein neues Bündnis für die Würde der Arbeit (South-North. A New Coalition for the Dignity of work). Documentation of the Conference, 1- 3. October, Pisa. Bologna: EMI.
10.
D'Aveni, R.1994. Hypercomeptition: Managing the Dynamics of Strategic ManagementNew York: Free Press .
11.
Della Porta, D., H. Kriesi and D. Rucht.1999. Social Movements in a Globalizing World . London: MacMillan.
12.
Deutsche Shell AG1995. Die Ereignisse um Brent Spar in Deutschland. Hamburg: Shell.
13.
Dicken, P.1998. Global Shift—Transforming the World Economy . London: PCB.
14.
,Die Gruppe von Lissabon. 1997. Grenzen des Wettbewerbs—Die Globalisierung der Wirtschaft und die Zukunft der Menschheit. München: Luchterhand.
15.
Dierkes, M., K. Hähner and A. Antal.1997. Das Unternehmen und sein Umfeld: Wahrnehmungsprozesse und Unternehmenskultur am Beispiel eines Chemiekonzerns. Frankfurt/Main ; New York: Campus.
16.
Dyllick, T.1989. Management der Umweltbeziehungen: Offentliche Auseinandersetzungen als Herausforderung. Wiesbaden: Gabler.
17.
Enderle, G. and G. Peters.1998. A Strange AffairLondon: Price Waterhouse.
18.
ETI (Ethical Trading Initiative).1998. Purpose, Principles, Programme—Membership Information. London: ETI.
19.
Eti.1999. Introducing the Ethical Trading Initiative. London:ETI.
20.
Freeman, R.E.1984. Strategic Management: A Stakeholder PerspectiveMarshfield, MA: Pitman.
21.
Göbel, E.1992. Das Management der Sozialen Verantwortung. Berlin: Duncker und Humblot.
22.
Hinterhuber, H., G. Handlbauer, K. Matzer and E. Valdani.1998. 'The New Rules of Competition: From Evolution to Co-Evolution', CEMS Business Review2(3): 167-75.
23.
Katz, D.1994. Just Do It: The Nike Spirit in the Corporate WorldNew York: Random House.
24.
Keck, M. and K. Sikking.1998. Activists beyond Borers— Advocacy Networks in International Politics. Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press.
25.
Korten, David.1995. When Corporations Rule the WorldLondon : Earthscan.
26.
Lash, S. and J. Urry.1994. Economies of Signs & Space. London: Sage Publications.
Mander, J. and E. Goldsmith.1996. The Case Against the Global Economy—And for a Turn toward the Local. San Francisco: Sierra.
29.
Mitchell, J. (ed.). 1998. Companies in a World of Conflict: NGOs, Sanctions and Corporate Responsibility. London: Earthscan.
30.
Musiolek, B. (ed.). 1999. Gezähmte Modemultis— Verhaltenskodizes: Ein Modell zur Durchsetzung von Arbeitsrechten ? Eine kritische Bilanz. Wien: Südwind.
31.
Pauchant, T. and I. Mitroff.1992. Transforming the Crisis-Prone Organization—Preventing Individual, Organizational, and Environmental TragediesSan Francisco: Jossey-Bass Inc.
32.
Pennartz, P.1999. 'The Clean Clothes Campaign'. Paper prepared for the ILO In Focus Programme on Strengthening Social Dialogue , 12 and 14 December 1999, Geneva.
33.
Rosenzweig, P.1995. 'International Sourcing in Athletic Footwear: Nike and Reebok', in C. Bartlett and S. Goshal. (eds), Transnational Management . 2nd ed., pp. 170-82. Chicago: Irwin.
34.
Schneidewind, U.1998. Die Unternehmung als Strukturpolitischer Akteur—Kooperatives Schnittmengenmanagement im Ökologischen Kontext. Marburg : Metropolis.
35.
Stopford, J. and S. Strange.1991. Rival States, Rival Firms—Competition for World Market Shares. Cambridge: University Press.
36.
UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development).1994. World Investment Report 1994— Transnational Corporations, Employment and the Workplace. New York: United Nations Publications.
37.
—. 1995. World Investment Report 1995— Transnational Corporations and Competitiveness. New York: United Nations Publications.
38.
UNDP (United Nations Development Programme).1998. Bericht Über die Menschliche Entwicklung 1998. Bonn: UNO-Verlag.
39.
Vidal, J.1997. Mc Libel—Burger Culture on Trial. London: Pan Books.
40.
Wartick, S. and D. Wood.1998. International Business and Society . Oxford: Blackwell.
