Tensions in the theory and practice of Social Responsibility

April, 3 to 6, 2024
Quito, Ecuador

 

In April 2024, we will travel to the very first World Cultural Heritage Sites, declared by UNESCO in 1978. This is the historic city of Quito, Ecuador, where our XXIst Conference will be hosted by Universidad Estatal de Milagro, UNEMI.
For our conference we will focus upon some of the tensions in the actual operation of social responsibility. The concept of social responsibility can appear in different ways in the organizational practices and the phenomenon had been studied within different frameworks and methodologies. One of the first versions regarding the appearance of the term “social responsibility” is based upon a manifesto written by 120 industrial men of Britain at the end of the eighteenth century. The manifest outlined a company’s responsibility as the maintaining of equilibrium of public interest, of consumer’s needs, employees’ aspirations and the stockholders ‘interests.
Although its importance is recognized, there has been no consensus of a definition of social responsibility. If, for some, the term means legal responsibility or social obligation, for others it is associated with ethics, voluntaryism, or charity by companies. There are also those who argue that internal social responsibility is only an obligation to pay employees and ensuring compliance with labor rights. There are still even those who believe that social responsibility is an evasive “battle” for contemporary capitalism. This lack of consensus probably denotes how many values and motivations are behind the movement, which becomes many times more dominant in the capitalist discourse. 
Additionally, the context has a lot of influence in the theoretical purposes and organizational practices. Latin America, Asia, Africa, North America, and Europe, for instance, should probably differ in what can be understood as good practices in social responsibility. 

This Conference therefore is a very important space to discuss the tensions, synergies and contradictions between the theory and practice of social responsibility and seeks to attract different perspectives to enrich the discourse, from different parts of the world.  We invite researchers from all disciplines and diverse perspectives to contribute to this agenda. Papers are welcomed on any topics related to the theme of our conference including:
•    Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability
•    Governance and Sustainability
•    Net Zero and its challenges
•    CSR and Sustainable Development Goals – SDG
•    Climate change and business activity
•    Ethics, accountability, and disclosure standards.
•    Human rights and business sustainability
•    Sustainability reporting and Society
•    Stakeholders’ commitment 
•    The role of Government and the Civil Society organizations in Social Responsibility.
•    Challenges of social inclusion: gender, disabilities, ethnicity. 
•    Supply chain and initiatives against modern slavery.
•    Social entrepreneurship 
•    Social innovations and regional development
•    Sustainable agriculture and Food Systems
•    Technological developments for sustainability
•    CSR and digital (r)evolution
•    Accounting, Sustainability and Social Responsibility
•    Social control, participation, and citizenship
•    Environmental behavior 
•    Institutional environments and strategic partnerships 
•    Public governance 
•    Collaborative governance
•    Green agenda and climate change
•    Green technology and alternative energy systems
•    Social Responsibility at High Education Institutions.
•    Sustainable cities
•    Solidarity and Social Finance
•    CSR in Education
•    Applications of Multivariate methods to CSR studies

 

Directions and Important deadlines

Although preference will be given to full papers, structured abstracts of 200‐500 words will also be considered.
All papers and abstracts should be sent by February, 1st 2024 by email to Prof. Dr. David Crowther. Notification of acceptance will be given before February 12th 2024.
No more than 2 papers may be presented by any author.
Final version of the accepted papers will be required by March 8th, 2024.

Publications

One of the distinguishing features of the conferences is SRRNet’s focus on subsequent publication of papers presented. SRRNet publishes at least one book of selected papers from each conference but also encourages every participant to publish their work. 
Advice will be given during the conference. Full details concerning other publishing opportunities for the papers presented at the conference will be provided during the conference.
The Network currently publishes 2 fully refereed and indexed official journals in association with Emerald Publishing: Social Responsibility Journal and Technological Sustainability.
The Network also publishes 3 book series, within which the book(s) from the conference will be published:
Approaches to Global Sustainability, Markets and Governance – published by Springer, 
Developments on Corporate Governance and Responsibility – published by Emerald,
Science, Technology and Sustainability – published by World Scientific
All books published in these series are fully indexed.

Organising Committee

Professor Fernando López Parra, Universidad Estatal de Milagro - Conference Chair
Professor Jaime Andocilla, Universidad Estatal de Milagro - Conference Chair
Professor Mariana Lima Bandeira, Universidad Estatal de Milagro - Conference Chair
Prof. Dr. David Crowther - President of SRRNet & Chair of Scientific Committee
Dr. Shahla Seifi - SRRNet Conferences Chair