Is there any such thing as ‘global corporate responsibility’? Professor Adrian Henriques, Middlesex University Milan, May 2008

Questions for ‘Corporate Citizenship’ Is Corporate Citizenship the same thing as CSR? Are companies people? Are companies members of society? Are companies citizens? If there is corporate citizenship, is it global?

Citizenship and CSR Is it the same thing – if so: – it is unclear what it means – it has doubtful ethical content – it typically achieves little in relation to the scale of social and environmental challenges. If it is different, it needs much greater clarity

Are companies people? Are they regarded as accountable for what they do? Do they have the intentions and resources to act? Can we see them as morally responsible?

Are companies members of society? They do produce things we need They interact with all of us – their stakeholders They must be as self- controlled as any other member of society

Are companies citizens? Do they have rights? Can they vote? Can they petition parliament?

Is corporate citizenship global? Do they have consistent policies globally? Do they perform in the same way across the world? Where are they based?

Conclusion Companies are: – People – Members of society – Citizens...but they should not be Companies are not global in their implementation of ethics...perhaps they should be