NGOs and Corporations Conflict and Collaboration

We live in a period marked by the ascendency of corporations. At the same time, the number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) – such as Amnesty International, CARE, Greenpeace, Oxfam, Save the Children, and the WWF – has rapidly increased in the last twenty years. As a result, these two very different types of organization are playing an increasingly important role in shaping our society, yet they often have very different agendas. This book focuses on the dynamic interactions, both conflictual and collaborative, that exist between corporations and NGOs. It includes rigorous models, frameworks, and case studies to document the various ways that NGOs target corporations through boycotts, proxy campaigns, and other advocacy initiatives. It also explains the emerging pattern of cross-sectoral alliances and partnerships between corporations and NGOs. This book can help managers, activists, scholars, and students to better understand the nature, scope, and evolution of these complex interactions.

Acknowledgements; List of tables; List of figures; Preface; Part I. Understanding NGOs: 1. Classifying NGOs: definitions, typologies and networks; 2. The emergence of NGOs in the context of business-government – societal relationships; 3. The emergence of NGOs in the context of ethical and institutional complexity; Case illustration: genetically modified organisms, social movements and NGOs; Case illustration: protecting the people: environmental NGOs and TXU energy; Part II. NGO Advocacy Campaigns: 4. NGO campaigns against corporations and (de-) legitimacy; 5. How do they do it? Understanding the power and influence of radical advocacy NGOs; 6. NGO campaign types and company responses; Case illustration: PETA and KFC; Case illustration: Coca-Cola in India; Part III. NGO-Corporate Engagement: 7. Corporate–NGO engagements: from conflict to collaboration; 8. Globalization, multinationals and NGOs: the next wave; Case illustration: conflict diamonds; Case illustration: Unilever in Indonesia; Case illustration: microfinance and poverty reduction; Part IV. The Future of Corporate-NGO Relations: 9. The future of corporate-NGO relations; Index.

We live in a period marked by the ascendency of corporations. At the same time, the number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) has also rapidly increased. This book focuses on the dynamic interactions, both conflictual and collaborative, that exist between these two very different types of organization.

Jonathan Doh is the Herbert G. Rammrath Chair in International Business, founding Director of the Center for Global Leadership, and Associate Professor of Management at the Villanova School of Business.
Michael Yaziji is Professor of Strategy and Organizations at IMD.