Using annual reports of Austrian listed corporations between 1990 and 2005, we analyze how corporations theorize their social and societal responsibilities. We empirically illustrate that these organizations not only evoke several distinct domains of corporate responsibility, but also assign themselves and others specific positions in the social matrix of relevancy and power - which in turn gives rise to a distinct pattern on the field level. We discuss various features and implications of what we describe as a politicization of individual corporations at the price of a relocation of politics away from recognized and firmly institutionalized arenas of collective interest representation (i.e., the polity) as well as a broad-scale de-politicization of society.

The role firms should play in the fight against depletion of natural resources and the shortcomings of their actions that affect people occupy a central position in the public debate. This paper argues that every firm, whatever its size, industry or country of origin can and should integrate the environment and society as a whole in their decisions and in turn, use business as a source for good. In this paper, I first take a snapshot of the debate occurring between the main actors at stake (consumers, governments and companies themselves). I then explain an existing program that intends to tackle the question of responsibility of businesses (B Corporations). Afterwards, I compare four companies (2 B Corporations, 2 non B Corporations), and analyze their actions through the 7S Model of McKinsey coupled with other relevant criteria. I conclude with the argument that firms actually benefit from taking care of the environment and of people around them. Indeed, doing so increases employees’ loyalty and responsibility, boosts firms’ awareness through a green image, appeals to the will of customers to consume responsibly and encourages those who are not decided yet to do so. Furthermore, it allows businesses to undertake a sustainable approach that will not jeopardize the resources they need to be around in the future.