Land Grabbing and Corporate Social Responsibility: How Companies Affect Resistance
Author Information
Author(s): Jan Sändig
Primary Institution: University of Bayreuth
Hypothesis
How do corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices impact local and transnational contention against land grabbing?
Conclusion
The study finds that timely and substantial CSR practices can demobilize resistance, while superficial or belated CSR efforts provoke further contestation.
Supporting Evidence
- CSR practices can mitigate grievances and enable dialogue, reducing the likelihood of protests.
- Companies that fail to implement substantial CSR measures may provoke local and transnational resistance.
- Timely CSR efforts are more effective in preventing contention than belated or superficial actions.
Takeaway
When companies act responsibly and help local communities, people are less likely to protest. But if they only pretend to help, it can make people very angry and lead to more protests.
Methodology
The study compares two major European agricultural companies in Cameroon, analyzing their CSR practices and the resulting local and transnational resistance through interviews and document analysis.
Potential Biases
Potential bias may arise from the reliance on interviews with local activists and NGOs, which could overemphasize negative views of the companies.
Limitations
The study primarily focuses on Cameroon and may not fully represent the dynamics in other countries or contexts.
Participant Demographics
The study includes local community members, grassroots activists, NGO staff, and company representatives, primarily from Cameroon.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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