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Corporate Social Reform: An Activist's Viewpoint
Moore, Philip W.
15/4  (Summer 1973): 90-96

The article presents the author's comments on the role of activists in enforcing social responsibility of business. He asserts that activism is an expression of public concern. The role of activists is to set forth options for society, requiring forceful and articulate presentations of these options for the public. Moreover, corporation does not have a social responsibility to society and it is true that people do not want corporate leaders determining social policy for people. But while all that is true, the corporation does have a function that is defined, or should be defined by the society. And that function is economic to keep the economy moving by providing jobs and income and delivering goods and services to the nation at the cheapest possible total costs. But what is forgotten in this equation is that the economic function has a tremendous impact on society. And if society determines that the economic function previously delegated to corporations is no longer serving society, then society has the right and obligation to reexamine that function and, if necessary, to revoke the delegation of authority, and redefine the function.

 

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