Discussion: View Thread

Background and topics

The very definition of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is described as discretionary business act that reaches beyond the legal prescription of law, and suggests automatic exclusion of active government involvement from many topics of the business and society debate. However, such an exclusion per default is neither supported by empiric reality, nor desirable. It is worth to note a great part of the business and society debate in Europe is stimulated by public governance. Moreover, policy makers can stimulate market players trough regulation and incentives to (i) strengthen the supply and demand of products/services of CSR companies,  (ii) adopt CSR principles in business models, and even (iii) prevent from window dressing or green washing practices of CSR engagement. In addition, governments are organizations that should embrace the principles of social responsibility in their codes of conduct, as role models and as one of the key stakeholders that can contribute to solve both social and environmental challenges. Moreover, public organizations have the opportunity to embed the principles of CSR in the diversity of Public-Private-Collaborations they have with private organizations.

To conclude, we identify at least three topics as role of governments in the Business and Society debate :   (1) the role of governments as policy makers in CSR, (2) the role of governments as role models in CSR, and (3) the role of governments as partners of business and non-profit organizations in CSR. We are looking forward to your provocative ideas on these topics (not limitative list). 

Key note speakers

We are happy to welcome as key note speakers, and grateful for their contribution:

·         Distinguished practitioners: Meglena Kuneva (Chair of the European Policy Center, Former European Commissioner Consumer Affairs), Bruno Tuybens (Member of the Belgian Federal Parliament, Mayor of Zwalm), Tom Dodd (CSR Policy Advisor at the European Commission), Stefan Schepers (Managing Director of EPPA), Simon Pickard (Director General of EABIS), Claire Van Bergen (Partner Deloitte), Laurent Ledoux (Head of Public Bank Belgium, BNP Paribas Fortis).

·         Distinguished academics: Prof.dr. Ans Kolk (Universiteit van Amsterdam), Prof.dr. Nigel Roome (Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School),  Prof.dr. Alain Verbeke (University of Calgary, Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Prof.dr. Jonatan Pinkse (Grenoble Ecole de Management).

Deadlines

·         25 July 2011 : submission of 3-5 page abstract to nikolay.dentchev@gmail.com

·         10 Augustus 2011 : acceptance of participation

·         25 Augustus 2011 : registration and payment of €100 for seminar participation

For further information please contact prof.dr. Nikolay Dentchev at nikolay.dentchev@gmail.com or +32(0)477.91.71.21

Acknowledgement

We gratefully acknowledge the support of our sponsors, BNP Paribas Fortis and Deloitte. We also would like to thank IABS, EABIS, and Philosophie & Management for the organizational support.

This conference is organized by the Chair of Public-Private-Partnerships at VUB (Deloitte, Laga, Grontmij).