Dannelsen af det samfundsansvarlige virksomhedssubjekt - En undersøgelse af styringen af danske virksomheders samfundsansvar

摘要

Based on a Foucault inspired theoretical framework this thesis examines how Corporate Social Responsibility of Danish corporations is governed. Foucault’s thoughts concerning power and government of the subject are central notions in this thesis. Therefore we wish to disclose initially how and why this line of thinking can be applied to an analysis of corporations even though Foucault in his theoretical work only regarded individuals as subjects.We wish to interrogate how technologies of power contribute to the shaping of Danish corporations as social responsible corporate subjects. The study is based on four technologies of power; the law regarding reporting requirements on corporate social responsibility, The Social Responsibility Council, online based tools, and partnerships between NGOs and corporations. In regards to each of these technologies of power it is examined how these various technologies with different approaches seek to promote a certain approach to and understanding of corporate social responsibility and to shape Danish companies in accordance to this.It is concluded that the social responsible corporate subject in Denmark comply with a business-driven social responsibility approach which requires the company to act according to the expectations of the stakeholders and to contribute to the solutions of societal challenges which is related to the companies capabilities. Furthermore it is concluded that the reporting requirement serves as a promoter for Danish companies to undertake corporate social responsibility, and that the remaining technologies of power shapes the companies’ corporate social responsibility in the direction of the business-driven approach to the social responsible corporate subject.