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In the contemporary landscape of global governance and corporate accountability, the European Union's struggle to pass the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) highlights a significant challenge in aligning corporate interests with the broader goals of public health, environmental protection, and human rights. This impasse underscores the profound influence of economic interests in shaping policy outcomes, often at the expense of essential reforms needed to safeguard societal well-being and the planet.
The guest lecture offered by our Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Costantino Grasso at the Center for Transnational Legal Studies, a renowned institution founded by Georgetown University Law School and operated in partnership with several leading law schools worldwide, shed light on this pressing issue. The lecture, entitled “Legalized Corporate Social Responsibility as a Catalyst for Social Change,” was part of the course in Criminology of White-Collar Crime, coordinated by Dr. Michele Miravalle.
Dr. Grasso's presentation captivated an international audience of law students from diverse backgrounds, including the United States, Australia, Switzerland, Italy, and India. The lecture provided a platform for these students to engage in meaningful discussions about the urgent need for mandatory Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) measures. These measures are seen as vital tools to curb corporate misconduct and alleviate its negative impacts on society.
Throughout the lecture, Dr. Grasso explored themes such as the necessity for consistent approaches to CSR and challenged the prevailing myth of deregulation. The discussion revolved around two critical global issues: plastic pollution and modern slavery. These case studies exemplified the dire consequences of lax regulatory frameworks and the absence of sanctions with a genuine deterrent effect. Without such measures, it is nearly impossible to tackle severe environmental degradation and human rights abuses effectively.
The lecture served as a crucial reminder of the ongoing struggle to hold corporations accountable for their actions and the imperative to enact robust regulatory frameworks that can drive meaningful social change. As the debate over the CSDDD continues, the insights shared at the Center for Transnational Legal Studies provide a timely reflection on the path forward in the pursuit of a more just and sustainable global society.
The insights from Dr. Grasso's lecture and his presentation are accessible below. These materials offer a valuable resource for students and scholars interested in the intersections of corporate governance, legal reform, and social responsibility.
These slides are intended for internal study purposes only, and any reproduction of their content without the express written consent of the author is strictly prohibited.
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