Terms for Endearment: Business, NGOs and Sustainable Development

by Jem Bendell (Editor)

Business and NGOs are seen by many to be locked in a perpetual war of values and ideologies. What this book demonstrates is that many companies are now engaging with their stakeholders - even those with which they have traditionally had antagonistic relationships - as part of their strategies for improved social and environmental performance. With contributions from a diverse group of experts from business, consultancy, research institutes, NGOs and academia, "Terms for Endearment" investigates the how and why of these new collaborations and provides concrete examples of business working with stakeholder pressure for sustainable development. The book forcibly argues the notion of organizations of civil society setting the standards for business behaviour in the 21st century. For those companies that choose not to pursue high standards of social and environmental performance, confrontation with NGOs must be expected, with negative consequences for sales, costs and social capital, namely the bottom line. "Terms for Endearment" therefore presents business with both a threat and opportunity as we move closer to establishing a social basis for global economic activity.

280 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2000

About the author

Jem Bendell is a professor of sustainability leadership and founder of the Institute for Leadership and Sustainability at the University of Cumbria.

Reviews

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

Academic paper pushers doing what the prophets coming out of the desert did some three millennia ago, only this time paid by the tax payer.