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Canadian Mining Companies and Corporate Social Responsibility: Weighing the Impact of Global Norms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 March 2007

Hevina S. Dashwood
Hevina S. Dashwood
Affiliation:
Brock University
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Abstract

Abstract. This study analyzes the factors that led two Canadian mining companies, Noranda and Placer Dome, to adopt polices on corporate social responsibility (CSR). Although much has been written on CSR in the business and organization fields, there has been little scholarly treatment of the topic from a social sciences perspective. A common assumption is that companies are merely reacting to societal pressures from transnational non-governmental organizations. This study challenges that assumption, by weighing the impact of emerging global norms of CSR against influences internal to the companies themselves, and domestic influences operating in Canada. The research findings point to the decisive influence of internal company dynamics and the experience of operating mines in Canada. While emerging global CSR norms are important, their role is more complex than is often assumed, as mining companies have been proactive in their efforts to shape those norms.

Résumé. Cette étude analyse les facteurs qui ont amené deux sociétés minières canadiennes, Noranda et Placer Dome, à adopter des politiques concernant la responsabilité sociale de l'entreprise (RSE). La RSE a fait couler beaucoup d'encre dans le domaine des affaires et de l'organisation, mais peu de chercheurs s'y sont intéressés dans la perspective des sciences sociales. On part très souvent de l'hypothèse que les sociétés se contentent de réagir aux pressions sociales exercées par les organisations non-gouvernementales transnationales. Cette étude remet cette hypothèse en question en comparant l'impact des normes globales émergentes de la RSE aux influences internes aux sociétés elles-mêmes, et aux influences domestiques qui s'exercent au Canada. Les résultats révèlent l'influence décisive des dynamiques internes des sociétés et celle de l'expérience dérivée de l'exploitation des mines au Canada. Les normes globales émergentes en matière de RSE sont certes importantes, mais leur rôle est plus complexe qu'on ne l'admet souvent car les sociétés minières ont joué un rôle très actif dans leur élaboration.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique , Volume 40 , Issue 1 , March 2007 , pp. 129 - 156
Copyright
© 2007 Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

Since this study was undertaken, both companies have been taken over by other mining companies. Noranda merged with Falconbridge in March 2005, and Falconbridge was taken over by Swiss-based Xstrata in August 2006. In January 2006, Placer Dome was taken over by Barrick Gold, making that company the largest gold company in the world. These developments are reflective of a larger process of consolidation taking place within the mining and minerals sector. While the impact of these takeovers on Placer Dome's and Noranda's CSR policies will be a fascinating subject of future study, the scope of this study remains the influences on these companies' CSR policies, and the impact of emerging norms of CSR.

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