Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Affairs in the British Press: An Ecofeminist Critique of Neoliberalism

This book explores how the media enforce CSR discourse while at the same time arguing for environmental preservation. It uses economic growth,CSR,and the press coverage of environmental affairs as a case study. The author argues that CSR is part of a wheel of neoliberalism that perpetuates inequality and the exploitation of women and Nature. The book presents a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods to explain how and why CSR is being pushed forward by the news media,and how the media preserves the status quo by creating moral panic on environmental issues while at the same time pushing for CSR discourse and economic growth,which only contributes towards environmental degradation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 226 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book delves into an ecofeminist critique of neoliberalism, utilizing economic growth, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and media coverage of environmental affairs as a case study. The author argues that CSR is intricately linked to the wheel of neoliberalism, perpetuating inequality, the exploitation of women, and the degradation of nature. Through an ecofeminist sense-making analysis of media coverage on food waste, global warming, plastic, economic growth, and CSR, the author demonstrates how the press discourse consistently follows a similar pattern, serving to maintain the status quo by portraying CSR as merely a façade that salvaged capitalism and merely one cog in the wheel of neoliberalism. While existing research provides insights from business and public relations studies, focusing on CSR implementation and its impact on business reputations, this book explores how the media enforce CSR discourse while simultaneously advocating for environmental preservation.

The book employs a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods to unravel the mechanisms behind the media's promotion of CSR and their preservation of the status quo. It examines how the media frame environmental issues, creating moral panic and pushing for CSR discourse, while simultaneously advocating for economic growth. This research sheds light on how the media contribute to environmental degradation by promoting a neoliberal discourse that juxtaposes economic growth with environmentalism, ultimately undermining sustainability.

The book's original research focuses on how the media write about economic growth, plastics, food waste, CSR, and global warming. Drawing from ecofeminist theory and media feminist theory, this interdisciplinary study offers a novel analysis of CSR, arguing that enforcing CSR as a business practice harms the environment. It further contends that the media enforce a neoliberal discourse that promotes both economic growth and environmentalism, which are inherently contradictory goals.

The book examines the UK media as a case study to illustrate its findings. It analyzes the coverage of these issues in mainstream newspapers, magazines, and online platforms to assess the extent to which the media promote CSR and perpetuate the status quo. The book identifies patterns and trends in the media's reporting, highlighting how they frame environmental issues, evoke emotions, and influence public opinion.

In conclusion, this book provides a comprehensive ecofeminist critique of neoliberalism, shedding light on the role of CSR in perpetuating inequality, exploitation, and environmental degradation. Through an interdisciplinary analysis of media coverage and a case study of the UK media, it offers valuable insights into the mechanisms behind the media's promotion of CSR and their preservation of the status quo. By challenging the neoliberal discourse and advocating for a more sustainable and equitable approach to business, this book contributes to the ongoing debate on the intersection of economics, politics, and the environment.

Weight: 444g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367550202