Writing the Social Contract : Integrating the U.N. Global Compact into Mining CSR

Purpose: This chapter discusses the influence of the United Nations Ten Principles [UNGC] on multinational mining companies' (mining MNE) corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities and strategies.Design/methodology/approach: Business ethics, mining management, CSR, stakeholder and social contracting literatures are integrated with case vignettes to examine the UNGC's role in motivating efficacious, benevolent CSR in mining.Findings: Mining industry groups and some mining MNEs have adopted and fully implemented UNGC principles while other mining MNEs have not. The variation manifests as a gap between CSR form and CSR substance. Mining industry bodies such as ICMM, stakeholders and private monitors have increased pressure to narrow this gap. The UNGC acts as a catalyst to create and codify valid hypernorms and to build trust and managerial buy-in in mining MNEs' CSR.Research limitations/implications: Reliance on selected cases and extant literature indicates, but does not fully support, conclusions.Practical implications: Mining MNEs are advised to pursue CSR activities which integrate social contracting and precepts of the UNGC. The results would be happier, less antagonistic stakeholder communities, and less questioning of mining MNEs' legitimacy.Originality/value of the paper: This chapter integrates above-mentioned literature and cases to advise academics, governance officials and private monitors, and mining MNE managers on effective integration of the UNGC into mining through social contracting