Papers by tamar barkay
Social Responsibility Journal, 2024
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the potential relationship between internal corporate social r... more Purpose
This paper aims to explore the potential relationship between internal corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the decline of organised labour in countries of the global North. Given the opposing trends since the late 20th century and the widespread adherence of internationally recognised labour standards in CSR codes, standards, and reporting frameworks, questions arise about the disparity between CSR rhetoric and practice regarding the collective rights of in-house employees. The paper further explores the tendency in CSR scholarship to overlook violations of collective rights for in-house employees in the global North.
Design/methodology/approach
To examine whether there is an elective affinity between the rise of CSR and the decline of organised labour, the paper uses a discursive institutionalism approach, providing a meta-theoretical analysis of academic literature on internal CSR. A scoping review methodology was used to identify relevant literature and compile it into an empirical corpus for a metatheoretical analysis. The empirical corpus, consisting of 38 articles, was generated through a Google Scholar (GS) search guided by the following questions: (1) What are the dominant conceptual framings of internal CSR? (2) What are the dominant roles and practical aspects of internal CSR?
Findings
The paper identifies two key disparities in the literature: (1) between rhetoric and practice regarding the collective rights of in-house employees in the global North and (2) between the extensive CSR research on violations of collective rights of value chain workers and the limited attention to in-house employees’ collective rights. The analysis highlights two factors contributing to these disparities: the integration of internal CSR into the corporate managerial toolbox and the distinction in CSR discourse between core labour standards and workplace issues. The analysis shows that internal CSR has an elective affinity with the decline of organised labour.
Research limitations/implications
While scoping reviews are often standalone studies, this paper used the methodology for its stated purpose. Limitations include the broad span of internal CSR across various academic fields and reliance solely on GS. Measures taken to enhance inclusivity were unlimited review period, refined inclusion criteria and keywords during the selection process and cross-checks of cited articles.
Social implications
Considering the implications of the decline of organised labour on workers’ collective voice, poverty and the distribution gap in wealth and income, this paper suggests that for CSR to play a significant role in advancing sustainable social justice, scholars and practitioners should look at ways to reduce the disparity between rhetoric and practice regarding employees’ voice and collective rights.
Originality/value
The paper lays the foundation for a better understanding of the potential links between internal CSR and the decline of organised labour. It addresses a gap in the literature on the interrelations between CSR and organised labour in the global North and proposes root causes of this gap. This contribution enriches the scarce literature exploring the potential elective affinity between CSR and transformations in the global economy and labour markets since the late 1980s. Finally, the paper deepens the understanding of the implications of CSR for employees’ collective rights and voice as well as for organised labour.
Globalizations, 2020
This is a case-study of an organized Israeli effort to disengage the issue of corporations in the... more This is a case-study of an organized Israeli effort to disengage the issue of corporations in the Palestinian Occupied Territories from the global CSR framework of human rights. At the centre of the study are three international CSR conferences which took place in Israel, hosting players in the global industry of corporate risk-management indices. The study underscores the importance of studying the micro-politics of producing and implementing human rights norms across the globe; designating micro-politics as the sum of informal exchanges among players who share a common platform of expertise. We find that the Israeli conveners leveraged the CSR conferences to (1) promote a campaign against BDS among CSR players, (2) invoke BDS as a trope for dissociating the human rights framework of CSR from corporate activities in the OPT, and (3) frame the activities of corporations in the OPT in terms of labour opportunities and economic development.
Law & Social Inquiry, 2024
A recurring conundrum lies at the heart of current anti-trafficking law and policy. Despite enorm... more A recurring conundrum lies at the heart of current anti-trafficking law and policy. Despite enormous efforts by civil society organizations, corporations, and governments to reduce human trafficking in supply chains, and the introduction of legislation in various countries that requires corporations to take active actions in this field, there is wide agreement that, so far, the desired change has not occurred. This article addresses this puzzle through studying the vibrant anti-trafficking activity in the UK construction sector that emerged following the enactment of the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 (MSA). Applying socio-legal methods, the article unpacks the structural dynamics that shape the implementation of the MSA in the construction sector. We find that the Act exacerbates the imbalanced power relations between firms and anti-trafficking initiatives, positioning the latter as suppliers of modern slavery risk solutions that are dependent on corporate will and funding. The article demonstrates that anti-trafficking initiatives in the construction sector largely follow a "supply chain logic" that significantly limits their capacities to transform corporate behavior. We develop the notion of "anti-trafficking chains" to describe the dynamics of anti-trafficking activities in supply chains and to problematize the entanglement of anti-trafficking actors in supply chain power structure and logic.
Critical Sociology, 2011
Community involvement programs occupy centre-stage in the portfolio of many corporations who disp... more Community involvement programs occupy centre-stage in the portfolio of many corporations who display and report upon their socially responsible performance. Focusing mainly on issues such as charity and employee volunteering, corporations remain fairly vague in reporting on the way they translate community involvement policies into concrete actions and on the social impact of their community programs. Based on first-hand observations and on-site ethnographic accounts, this study seeks to enrich extant understandings of the character and consequences of corporate involvement in communities. The study follows the diffusion of Coca-Cola’s global branding strategy and the community involvement program it recommended to the Israeli franchisee and analyzes its design and execution on the ground. The study finds a considerable gap between rhetoric of community involvement and practices of mobilizing the community to further the company’s ends. On a theoretical level, the study shows that community programs function as material performances of present-day capitalist ideology.
Regulation & Governance, 2009
In this article I analyze a multi-stakeholder process of environmental regulation. By grounding t... more In this article I analyze a multi-stakeholder process of environmental regulation. By grounding the article in the literature on regulatory capitalism and governance, I follow the career of a specific legislative process: the enactment of Israel’s Deposit Law on Beverage Containers, which aims to delegate the responsibility for recycling to industry. I show that one crucial result of this process was the creation of a non-profit entity licensed to act as a compliance mechanism. This new entity enabled industry to distance itself from the responsibility of recycling, and thereby frustrated the original objective of the legislation, which was to implement the principle of “extended producer responsibility.” Furthermore, this entity, owned by commercial companies and yet acting as an environmentally friendly organization, allowed industry to promote an anti-regulatory agenda via a “civic voice.” The study moves methodologically from considering governance as an institutional structure to analyzing the process of “governancing,” through which authoritative capacities and legal responsibilities are distributed among state and non-state actors. Two key findings are that this process and its outcome (i) are premised on an ideology of civic voluntarism, which ultimately delegates environmental responsibilities to citizens; and (ii) facilitate an anti-regulatory climate that serves commercial interests.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY JOURNAL, 2012
By focusing on the intra-organization dimension of corporate social responsibility (CSR), this pa... more By focusing on the intra-organization dimension of corporate social responsibility (CSR), this paper aims to offer an ethnographic analysis of the way Coca-Cola integrates its re-branding and marketing strategies with CSR and the processes through which this strategic agenda is diffused into the company’s national franchise in Israel. The research is based on a combined qualitative methodology of interviews with managers and employees on all levels of the organization; participant observations of formal meetings, company events and informal gatherings; and document evaluation. The paper shows how the CSR program is purposefully and rationally designed to meet the standards of a business case approach to CSR and that, accordingly, company managers integrate it into the activities of departments and divisions such as sales, marketing, and human resources (HR). It further shows that the cause-marketing and product-branding goals underlying the global re-branding strategy of Coca-Cola have been mediated through employee volunteering projects that are based on the recruitment and mobilization of the physical bodies of employees not only as ‘‘bodily-corporate-producers’’, but also as ‘‘bodily-corporate-ambassadors’’. By employing an in-depth ethnographic research design the paper enriches the understanding of the intricate organizational processes involved in the implementation of CSR programs and their effects and delineates the theoretical and empirical contours for future studies on the actual effects of implementation processes of the business case model for CSR.
Hebrew / עברית by tamar barkay
Theory and Criticism ; , 1999
The seventh torch lit during the Holocaust Commemoration ceremony at Kedma High School in Hatikva... more The seventh torch lit during the Holocaust Commemoration ceremony at Kedma High School in Hatikvah Neighborhood served to commemorate all those who were persecuted and exterminated, underscoring the ceremony's universal aspect while highlighting the particularist social location of its initiators. In doing so, it challenged both the state's claim of monopoly on representing universal values and the labeling of the school's interests as particularist.
Theory and Criticism, 2008
The idea of corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a product of transformations in the relation... more The idea of corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a product of transformations in the relations between market, state and society. The unprecedented powers of corporations on the one hand, and the retreat of the welfare state on the other hand, both of which characterize the current capitalist order, have led to the evolvement of new forms of social expectations from corporations - holding them accountable for issues traditionally handled by the state. Corporations responded with assertions of 'responsibility' and 'corporate citizenship'. In this article, I look at the development of the field of CSR in Israel as a unique product, which in as much as it draws upon the global field; it is influenced and shaped by local economic, political and social processes. Indeed, the local context in which the Israeli field of CSR evolves is crucial to the understanding of its unique nature i.e. its nationalist and state-oriented characteristics. In particular, I argue that the activities of the Israeli business community, as a dominant player in the CSR field, enable it to use the field as yet another arena for conducting its struggle over redefining national identity. That is to say, members of the business community in Israel seek to convert their economic capital to a social and symbolic one, via their practices in the field of CSR. Thus, the nationalist and state orientation of the Israeli field of CSR lies in the business community's recognition of nationalism as an effective tool for the accumulation of social and symbolic capital.
Study of The Organization and Human Resource Quarterly, 2020
This Essay examines the affinities between the manner in which the notion of corporate responsibi... more This Essay examines the affinities between the manner in which the notion of corporate responsibility was introduced into Israeli business culture, and the way in which this notion has developed as a teaching topic in MBA programs in Israeli institutions of higher education. The analytic structure of this examination is twofold: firstly, we propose that the codification and institutionalization of corporate responsibility in Israel, which consists of an ever-expanding adaptation of a strategic managerial outlook on the various social and environmental effects of corporate activity, are informed by the nationalistic and instrumental tendencies which characterize local public discourse; secondly, we offer a collaborative auto-ethnography, which consists of a reflexive retrospection of the pedagogical challenges we have experienced while teaching corporate responsibility modules MBA’s students in Israel. Our main argument is that the morphological similarities and differences between the practice and the pedagogy of CSR in Israel suggest that rather than offering a critical inquiry of the existing practice, current pedagogy echoes it.
Israeli Sociology, 2024
An introduction to a symposium in memory of Latour Bruno (1947-2023) Israeli Sociology 25(1) [Heb... more An introduction to a symposium in memory of Latour Bruno (1947-2023) Israeli Sociology 25(1) [Hebrew]
Politika: The Israeli Journal of Political Science, Jan 1, 1998
Book chapters by tamar barkay
Mondialisation et justice sociale: Un siècle d’action de l’Organisation internationale du travail, 2024
Depuis les années 1990, l'obligation qu'ont les entreprises de respecter les normes fondamentales... more Depuis les années 1990, l'obligation qu'ont les entreprises de respecter les normes fondamentales du travail de l'Organisation internationale du travail (OIT)-parmi lesquelles figurent des droits habilitants (enabling rights) 1 tels que la liberté d'association et le droit à la négociation collective-a progressivement été intégrée dans le cadre institutionnel et normatif de la responsabilité sociale des entreprises (RSE). Ce processus reflète la montée en puissance, ces dernières décennies, de la gouvernance privée du travail et des normes et pratiques liées à la RSE 2. Sur cette même période, et dans des conditions socio-économiques structurelles semblables, les marchés du travail ont subi des transformations profondes entraînant une érosion de la protection des droits fondamentaux et un déclin du travail organisé 3. Ce chapitre porte sur les trajectoires opposées qu'ont suivies l'évolution de la RSE d'une part et celle du travail organisé de l'autre durant ces dernières décennies. Comme le montrent certaines études, le travail organisé et l'accès aux droits fondamentaux jouent un rôle décisif dans l'amélioration des conditions de travail et dans la réduction des inégalités économiques 4. À partir de ce constat, un vaste corpus de textes examine les possibilités qu'offrent les
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Papers by tamar barkay
This paper aims to explore the potential relationship between internal corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the decline of organised labour in countries of the global North. Given the opposing trends since the late 20th century and the widespread adherence of internationally recognised labour standards in CSR codes, standards, and reporting frameworks, questions arise about the disparity between CSR rhetoric and practice regarding the collective rights of in-house employees. The paper further explores the tendency in CSR scholarship to overlook violations of collective rights for in-house employees in the global North.
Design/methodology/approach
To examine whether there is an elective affinity between the rise of CSR and the decline of organised labour, the paper uses a discursive institutionalism approach, providing a meta-theoretical analysis of academic literature on internal CSR. A scoping review methodology was used to identify relevant literature and compile it into an empirical corpus for a metatheoretical analysis. The empirical corpus, consisting of 38 articles, was generated through a Google Scholar (GS) search guided by the following questions: (1) What are the dominant conceptual framings of internal CSR? (2) What are the dominant roles and practical aspects of internal CSR?
Findings
The paper identifies two key disparities in the literature: (1) between rhetoric and practice regarding the collective rights of in-house employees in the global North and (2) between the extensive CSR research on violations of collective rights of value chain workers and the limited attention to in-house employees’ collective rights. The analysis highlights two factors contributing to these disparities: the integration of internal CSR into the corporate managerial toolbox and the distinction in CSR discourse between core labour standards and workplace issues. The analysis shows that internal CSR has an elective affinity with the decline of organised labour.
Research limitations/implications
While scoping reviews are often standalone studies, this paper used the methodology for its stated purpose. Limitations include the broad span of internal CSR across various academic fields and reliance solely on GS. Measures taken to enhance inclusivity were unlimited review period, refined inclusion criteria and keywords during the selection process and cross-checks of cited articles.
Social implications
Considering the implications of the decline of organised labour on workers’ collective voice, poverty and the distribution gap in wealth and income, this paper suggests that for CSR to play a significant role in advancing sustainable social justice, scholars and practitioners should look at ways to reduce the disparity between rhetoric and practice regarding employees’ voice and collective rights.
Originality/value
The paper lays the foundation for a better understanding of the potential links between internal CSR and the decline of organised labour. It addresses a gap in the literature on the interrelations between CSR and organised labour in the global North and proposes root causes of this gap. This contribution enriches the scarce literature exploring the potential elective affinity between CSR and transformations in the global economy and labour markets since the late 1980s. Finally, the paper deepens the understanding of the implications of CSR for employees’ collective rights and voice as well as for organised labour.
Hebrew / עברית by tamar barkay
Book chapters by tamar barkay
This paper aims to explore the potential relationship between internal corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the decline of organised labour in countries of the global North. Given the opposing trends since the late 20th century and the widespread adherence of internationally recognised labour standards in CSR codes, standards, and reporting frameworks, questions arise about the disparity between CSR rhetoric and practice regarding the collective rights of in-house employees. The paper further explores the tendency in CSR scholarship to overlook violations of collective rights for in-house employees in the global North.
Design/methodology/approach
To examine whether there is an elective affinity between the rise of CSR and the decline of organised labour, the paper uses a discursive institutionalism approach, providing a meta-theoretical analysis of academic literature on internal CSR. A scoping review methodology was used to identify relevant literature and compile it into an empirical corpus for a metatheoretical analysis. The empirical corpus, consisting of 38 articles, was generated through a Google Scholar (GS) search guided by the following questions: (1) What are the dominant conceptual framings of internal CSR? (2) What are the dominant roles and practical aspects of internal CSR?
Findings
The paper identifies two key disparities in the literature: (1) between rhetoric and practice regarding the collective rights of in-house employees in the global North and (2) between the extensive CSR research on violations of collective rights of value chain workers and the limited attention to in-house employees’ collective rights. The analysis highlights two factors contributing to these disparities: the integration of internal CSR into the corporate managerial toolbox and the distinction in CSR discourse between core labour standards and workplace issues. The analysis shows that internal CSR has an elective affinity with the decline of organised labour.
Research limitations/implications
While scoping reviews are often standalone studies, this paper used the methodology for its stated purpose. Limitations include the broad span of internal CSR across various academic fields and reliance solely on GS. Measures taken to enhance inclusivity were unlimited review period, refined inclusion criteria and keywords during the selection process and cross-checks of cited articles.
Social implications
Considering the implications of the decline of organised labour on workers’ collective voice, poverty and the distribution gap in wealth and income, this paper suggests that for CSR to play a significant role in advancing sustainable social justice, scholars and practitioners should look at ways to reduce the disparity between rhetoric and practice regarding employees’ voice and collective rights.
Originality/value
The paper lays the foundation for a better understanding of the potential links between internal CSR and the decline of organised labour. It addresses a gap in the literature on the interrelations between CSR and organised labour in the global North and proposes root causes of this gap. This contribution enriches the scarce literature exploring the potential elective affinity between CSR and transformations in the global economy and labour markets since the late 1980s. Finally, the paper deepens the understanding of the implications of CSR for employees’ collective rights and voice as well as for organised labour.