The Role of Corporate Social Responsibility in U.S. Private Military Firms under the Social Contract Theory

Abstract

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become a strategic maneuver for businesses to contribute to society in any way possible. Before, businesses were concerned with profit and profit-making. Nowadays, CSR has become a means of social contribution. It also promotes the ideology of the social contract theory, where it is believed that certain reciprocation exists between corporations and the society, or the public. Even for controversial industries, CSR has become a strategic opening for corporate reputation. Within this study of CSR, private military firms (PMFs) will be viewed as a controversial industry that requires and uses CSR as a strategic maneuver for corporate reputation. PMFs have always applied CSR to its strategies and reputation whether it was done consciously or unconsciously. Because of this, CSR has become important enough to be considered for PMFs. Private military firms have come to existence after the Cold War. They have become increasingly well-known because it offers paraprofessional military expertise as well as knowledge in specific areas including weapons, chemicals and high-technology (McCoy 2012: 324). Because of this, many including Raytheon and DynCorp International began to develop partnerships and gain reputation from not only the U.S. Department of Defense but also from other organizations willing to acknowledge them in their fields of expertise. The study examines the future role of CSR in private military firms under the social contract theory as a main strategy for philanthropic and social advancement in the community and society through three capabilities: broader accountability, involvement in rulemaking and building new social capabilities (Crane, Matten and Spence 2008: 458-459). The effectiveness of CSR will be discussed through the three capabilities. In the end, it will be clear if CSR is a good strategy for PMFs.;민간군사기업은 준 전문 군사 기술뿐만 아니라 대형무기, 화학 무기와 첨단 기술을 포함한 특정 영역에 정보를 제공함으로 그 위상이 점점 알려 져가는 단계에 있다. 본 논문은 민간군사기업의 세 가지 기능 (폭 넓은 책임, 규정 제정 및 새로운 기능을 구축 참여) 통해 지역 사회와 그 사회의 자선 및 사회 발전을 위한 주요 전략으로 정치적 기업의 사회적 책임 (CSR)을 이용하여 민간 군사 기업의 미래 역할을 연구하고 분석을 하였다. 정치적 CSR 아래, 사회계약이론 바탕으로 민간군사기업 (Raytheon 과 DynCorp International)의 CSR 전략과 동기를 통해 인정 될 수 있는 방법에 대한 인식을 분석 하였다. 마지막으로, 이 분석을 통해 각 정부가 전략적으로 CSR 사업을 발전하고 넓혀가는 해결책을 제공 할 수 있는 기회가 된다.