African Journal of Economic and Management Studies, 2014
Purpose – In recent years, the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has gained recogn... more Purpose – In recent years, the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has gained recognition and importance in both business and political settings. While considerable research has been conducted on CSR in developed countries, the extant literature on CSR in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is scant and CSR is seen in terms of philanthropy. This paper aims to examine CSR from a broader perspective and in particular to identify the factors that hinder and promote CSR activities in SSA using the Smit (2009) CSR Value Chain Model. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is based on data obtained from a survey conducted by GTZ (now GIZ) on factors promoting and hindering CSR in SSA. The study surveyed 85 companies from six countries, namely; South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Namibia. The study essentially examined the internal and external CSR environments of the companies in the participating countries. Findings – The study revealed that there are nine key promoting...
Legitimacy remains a key concept in political sociology, and perhaps even more so in lay understa... more Legitimacy remains a key concept in political sociology, and perhaps even more so in lay understandings of political processes and structures, as evidenced by conflict over territories and regimes around the world. However, the concept suffers from a rather static representation, and even when addressed in processual form, in terms of specific moments in the process, such as conditions favouring legitimacy or its effects. Building from an Eliasian perspective, we argue for a more processual concept of legitimisation to encompass the dynamic social networks (figurations) that constitute the more unintentional context for deliberate legitimation claims. As networks expand and intensify, processes of legitimisation incorporate changing and more diverse bases for legitimacy claims, as well as a greater variety of such claims and counterclaims. As the power relations between contending groups change, legitimation practices become part of the integrating functions of the state, shaping figurations and the social habitus.
Contents: Terrorism yesterday and today: an introduction National 'Islamic' terrorism: gr... more Contents: Terrorism yesterday and today: an introduction National 'Islamic' terrorism: groups in the Palestinian territories International 'Islamic' terrorism: al-Qa'ida and related groups Republican and Loyalist terrorism in Northern Ireland 'Red' urban terrorism: experiences in Italy, Germany and Japan From Left to Right: terrorism within America from the 1960s to today Conclusion: terrorism yesterday, today and tomorrow Glossary Bibliography Index.
Totalitarian Movements and Political Religions, Jun 1, 2002
The secularisation paradigm has dominated explanatory accounts of the Islamic resurgence. It sees... more The secularisation paradigm has dominated explanatory accounts of the Islamic resurgence. It sees Islamic 'fundamentalism' as the reaction of bazaaris, peasants and rural dwellers to secular social, political and economic change, but is less successful in explaining why social groups that are succeeding in secular societies are turning to Islam. This paper examines the relationship between 'established' and 'outsider' groups in Turkey to focus more closely on the process of secular 'establishment', which helps to explain why Islam is again becoming a force for radical change. The article argues that secularism was only ever partially established, thus Islamists were able to maintain their own 'group charisma' which, combined with the unintended consequences of certain state policies, produced a gradually shifting balance of power between the established and outsiders.
African Journal of Economic and Management Studies, 2014
Purpose – In recent years, the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has gained recogn... more Purpose – In recent years, the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has gained recognition and importance in both business and political settings. While considerable research has been conducted on CSR in developed countries, the extant literature on CSR in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is scant and CSR is seen in terms of philanthropy. This paper aims to examine CSR from a broader perspective and in particular to identify the factors that hinder and promote CSR activities in SSA using the Smit (2009) CSR Value Chain Model. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is based on data obtained from a survey conducted by GTZ (now GIZ) on factors promoting and hindering CSR in SSA. The study surveyed 85 companies from six countries, namely; South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Namibia. The study essentially examined the internal and external CSR environments of the companies in the participating countries. Findings – The study revealed that there are nine key promoting...
Legitimacy remains a key concept in political sociology, and perhaps even more so in lay understa... more Legitimacy remains a key concept in political sociology, and perhaps even more so in lay understandings of political processes and structures, as evidenced by conflict over territories and regimes around the world. However, the concept suffers from a rather static representation, and even when addressed in processual form, in terms of specific moments in the process, such as conditions favouring legitimacy or its effects. Building from an Eliasian perspective, we argue for a more processual concept of legitimisation to encompass the dynamic social networks (figurations) that constitute the more unintentional context for deliberate legitimation claims. As networks expand and intensify, processes of legitimisation incorporate changing and more diverse bases for legitimacy claims, as well as a greater variety of such claims and counterclaims. As the power relations between contending groups change, legitimation practices become part of the integrating functions of the state, shaping figurations and the social habitus.
Contents: Terrorism yesterday and today: an introduction National 'Islamic' terrorism: gr... more Contents: Terrorism yesterday and today: an introduction National 'Islamic' terrorism: groups in the Palestinian territories International 'Islamic' terrorism: al-Qa'ida and related groups Republican and Loyalist terrorism in Northern Ireland 'Red' urban terrorism: experiences in Italy, Germany and Japan From Left to Right: terrorism within America from the 1960s to today Conclusion: terrorism yesterday, today and tomorrow Glossary Bibliography Index.
Totalitarian Movements and Political Religions, Jun 1, 2002
The secularisation paradigm has dominated explanatory accounts of the Islamic resurgence. It sees... more The secularisation paradigm has dominated explanatory accounts of the Islamic resurgence. It sees Islamic 'fundamentalism' as the reaction of bazaaris, peasants and rural dwellers to secular social, political and economic change, but is less successful in explaining why social groups that are succeeding in secular societies are turning to Islam. This paper examines the relationship between 'established' and 'outsider' groups in Turkey to focus more closely on the process of secular 'establishment', which helps to explain why Islam is again becoming a force for radical change. The article argues that secularism was only ever partially established, thus Islamists were able to maintain their own 'group charisma' which, combined with the unintended consequences of certain state policies, produced a gradually shifting balance of power between the established and outsiders.
Uploads
Papers by Stephen Vertigans