Business and Development - towards re-politicisation

by Peter Edward and Anne Tallontire

Paper to be presented at Development Studies Association Conference, Westminster, London, 8th November 2008. Study Group Panel, Business and its influence on development

This paper attempts to provide a way of thinking about the relationship between business and development, especially as represented by different approaches to CSR and different business models.  In the following section we set out a heuristic model and illustrate how it can be used to locate key debates about ‘development' and the spectrum of ways in which business engages with development.  In section three we use the case of fair trade as an exemplar to explore the relevance of this model. Then, in the final section we look to the future and consider the ways in which different potential trajectories within the model highlight the need (but not necessarily the likelihood) for a re-politicisation of the relationship between business and development in the context of a more holistic re-imaging both of development and of the role of business.

http://www.devents.org.uk/Business-Edward-Tallontire.doc