The last few decades have witnessed a range of corporate scandals, some triggered by the ambiguous role of accountants, others by a lack of managerial accountability. Problems in the financial sector prompted a variety of questions, such as the relationship between the corporation and its stakeholders, the legal framework of its operations, and the role of supervisory bodies. These developments call for a thorough analysis and rethinking of corporate structures to create a more socially responsible approach. It is clear that companies with a traditional structure (corporations with stockholder activism or active stakeholders) are currently unable to adjust sufficiently to changing social demands. The time has come for alternative approaches that will shed new light on the origins of international corporate issues, problems and challenges in order to reach sustainable development and corporate social responsibility (CSR) throughout the business community.
Dovenschmidt Monographs has been set up with the aim of establishing a collection of prominent studies on CSR aimed at scholars and practitioners working in this field. Its goal is to contribute, influence and co-set the agenda of the ongoing social debate concerning actual, required and envisioned changes in corporate law, governance and corporate social responsibility. Dovenschmidt Monographs invites leading academics and promising young scholars to write about these major societal issues and thus contribute to the topical issues and debates about sustainable development and corporate social responsibility (CSR) throughout the business community.