"Strategic Response of the Government to Hegemony in the Evolution of the Global and the National CSR Governance Arenas: The South Korean Case"

Speaker: Dr. Hyemi Shin, Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University     

Abstract

This paper sheds light on the changing roles of a conventional recipient state and its dynamics with the non-state actors in the evolution of the global and the national CSR governance arenas. Taking a multilevel and temporal dynamic perspective, this paper investigates how a middle power state – the South Korean government – has responded to the transnational CSR governance field in the making at both the global and the local levels through time. Based on the concept of Cox (1993)’ world hegemony, this study regards South Korea as a subordinate state and global CSR governance as the world hegemonic project led by few global elites. Hence, the paper shows how the subordinate state has responded to the evolution of the global CSR governance field according to the changes in its economic and international political conditions. This study not only brings states back into our discussions of contemporary transnational governance dynamics, but also shows the transformation of the roles and positions of a state at both levels through time. Moreover, this study casts light on the role of a marginalised country with a middle class position in the global CSR governance arena.

Short Bio

Hyemi joined Newcastle Business School in 2017. She graduated from Yonsei University (English Literature and Applied Statistics as double majors) in South Korea and her postgraduate qualifications include an MS in Business Administration and Research and a PhD in Management (Strategy) from ESSEC Business School in France. Prior to her postgraduate degrees, she worked in a U.S. PR company based in Seoul, South Korea, as a market researcher.

Her research centres on the Business and Society relations from several perspectives of organizational theory. The rise of the importance of non-financial performance of business, non-market business strategy, and Business and Society interactions has inspired her over the years. Such research interests drove me to view “Corporate Social Responsibility” (CSR)/ “Sustainability” as an emergent organizational field or (more provocatively) a new market. In her current research, she explores the emergence and diffusion of CSR/sustainability professionals, CSR/sustainability standards, and the CSR/sustainability “market” in various contexts.