Environmental and Social Performance Indicators (ESPIs) in minerals development , vol. 5, chapter 11 : extract from the PhD thesis of Assheton Stewart Carter

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2002

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Abstract

A crucial component of competitive strategies of trans-national mining companies is the extraction of raw materials within developing countries. The areas where mining companies are currently active are often home to some of the most vulnerable and marginalised communities. This has thrown into starker relief the imbalance between costs accruing locally and distribution of benefits to the communities in the immediate proximity of mineral development. Pressures from both local and remote stakeholders are challenging mining companies not only to minimise negative impacts on surrounding populations, but also to act as local agents of development. The research objective of the thesis is to understand the behaviour of corporate entities across their full range of policies, strategies and organisational divisions to respond to the pressures emanating from these communities and their champions. Within an analytical framework informed by the corporate social responsibility literature, in particular corporate social responsiveness and corporate social performance, and theories of participation, the thesis makes an in depth study of the behaviour of mining companies towards their local communities through eleven case studies, in eight different countries, and three continents. Both corporate community development projects and core company activities (employment, supply contracts, land access agreements, accommodation arrangements and environmental management, as they relate to the local community) are analysed...

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CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, MINING INDUSTRY, DEVELOPMENT, LOCAL DEVELOPMENT, NATURAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENT, SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

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