Commercial Contract and Corporate Social Responsibility Values: A European Perspective and an Attempt of Normative Approach

Abstract

The topic of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been captioned under many names and forms while emphasizing the role of business in society. According to CSR proponents, corporations should create value for their shareholders in a way that it also creates value for society. The CSR notion has become present in commercial as well as contractual relationships. Yet, its legal normative rationale continues to be challenged. This chapter analyses the position of contract from a modern contract law theory reflecting on the evolution of contract law theory and the understanding of contract as a social concept. CSR in this chapter is represented by a set of values and thus it is analysed to what extent values have been an element of contracts. Ultimately, this chapter analyses the position of European legal frameworks, the CESL, the PECL and the DCFR. The chapter carries out an inquiry into the state of the European common contract law frameworks and their embracement and inclusion of values. The chapter through normative determination aims to show that the modern contract law theory supports inclusion of CSR values into the contracts. The same trend is visible in the European contract law frameworks.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Future of the Commercial Contract in Scholarship and Law Reform : European and Comparative Perspective
EditorsMaren Heidemann, Joseph Lee
Number of pages26
PublisherSpringer
Publication date2 Nov 2018
Pages283-308
ISBN (Print)978-3-319-95968-9
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-319-95969-6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2 Nov 2018

Keywords

  • Faculty of Law
  • CSR
  • contracts
  • EU

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