The normative grounding of social responsibility in African emerging markets: A setho ethics approach

Khali Mofuoa

    Research output: Book chapter/Published conference paperChapter (peer-reviewed)peer-review

    2 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    In African emerging markets (AEMs), the prevailing notions of social responsibility (SR) are based chiefly on Western ethics. Even discussions of corporate social responsibility (CSR) have, more often than not, been couched in the similar manner. Consequently, the field of CSR in AEMs is largely unaware of Setho ethics that for it are germane as a basis for thinking and talking about SR. In this chapter, the author proposes Setho ethics rooted in Botho, which sees the communal, interdependence and interrelatedness of beings, as an alternative vision of CSR in AEMs. In fact, people in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) see themselves in a symbiotic relationship with society, a point well-articulated by Mbiti (1969, p. 24) thus, “I am because you are, and since we are, therefore I am”. This African view through the Setho ethics lenses generates a different notion of an ideal SR of business to society worth illuminating in the CSR discourse today.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationCorporate social responsibility
    Subtitle of host publicationConcepts, methodologies, tools and applications
    EditorsInformation Resources Management Association
    Place of PublicationHershey, Pennsylvani, USA
    PublisherIGI Global
    Chapter26
    Pages489-508
    Number of pages20
    Edition1st
    ISBN (Electronic)9781522561934
    ISBN (Print)9781522561927
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2019

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