6) Neoliberalism and CSR Flashcards
(18 cards)
What is neoliberalism?
An economic and political ideology that promotes free markets, no state intervention, deregulation, and individual responsibility.
What is the central logic of neoliberalism?
That the market can solve all problem - economic, social, even ethical - better than governments.
What role does the state have under neoliberlism?
To create and enforce market conditions.
How does neoliberlism affect the idea of the individual?
Individuals are seen as entrepreneurs of the self — responsible for their own success or failure, with limited collective support.
What is corporate social responsibility?
Business practices aimed at promoting social and environmental good beyond legal requirements - usually voluntary.
How is CSR framed within a neoliberal context?
As a strategic business tool to manage brand image, reduce risk, and enhance profits — not as a moral obligation.
What is the criticism of CSR under neoliberalism?
It becomes PERFORMATIVE - focus on branding rather than systematic change.
What does it mean to outsource ethics to the market?
Ethical decisions are left to market forces and consumer choice rather than moral duty.
What is market morality?
The belief that if something is profitable, it must be good or right — profit becomes the main ethical metric.
Example of performative CSR?
A company launching a sustainability campaign while continuing to pollute or exploit workers in its supply chain.
What is greenwashing?
Misleading marketing that makes a company appear more environmentally responsible than it truly is.
What are the risks of relying on voluntary CSR?
Companies may use CSR to deflect criticism without changing harmful practices; there’s no enforcement or consistency.
How does Levinas critique CSR in neoliberal contexts?
CSR often erases the humanity of the Other — reducing ethics to metrics, branding, or anonymous stakeholder categories.
How would Bauman view CSR in a neoliberal world?
He would argue that CSR can suppress the moral impulse by replacing it with procedures, PR strategies, and disconnection.
What does Derrida’s “undecidability” reveal about CSR?
Ethical decisions require reflection and responsibility — not just ticking boxes or following CSR templates.
How can virtue ethics critique neoliberal CSR?
It asks whether CSR helps businesses grow in moral character — or if it promotes hypocrisy, selfishness, and superficiality.
What’s the key danger of neoliberal ethics?
It reduces ethics to strategy and market advantage, erasing care, responsibility, and structural justice.
What is the takeaway message from Week 6?
Ethics cannot be left to the market — real ethical action may require regulation, reflection, and resistance to profit-maximisation logic.
