The book convincingly sketches that a flourishing private sector is a condition for any country’s development. Bernstein emphasizes that business is a force for the good. Corporate leaders should not be defensive about their positive impact, but more actively promote their case. Bernstein recognizes that also corporations make mistakes, but that on balance any society has lots more to gain than to lose from business.

 

I fully support her view on this, but I have a bit of a problem with her opinion about ‘the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) movement’. To her CSR is an anti business phenomena.For her CSR equals people like Naomi Klein (No Logo). For me this is too much a one dimensional, old fashioned view on CSR and sustainability.

People with this view fail to recognize how business is anticipating macro trends such as population growth, price volatility of natural resources, environmental degradation in order to strengthen not only their ‘license to operate’, but their competitive position. CSR is no longer an obligation pushed into your agenda by outsiders (notably NGO's), but a strategic imperative.

 

Also in developing countries more and more businesses and organizations recognize the need for sustainable entrepreneurship. An interesting recent example is the launch of the Nigerian Sustainable Banking Principles by the Nigerian Bankers’ Committee.

The Governor of the Nigerian Central Bank, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, stated:  “We need to understand that as an industry, we will not continue to take savings and deposits from Nigerians and then lend to companies that will use the funds to destroy the environment. The long-term survival of the system depends on the protection of the ecosystem.”

This claim proofs Mr Sanusi and the Committee are moving this direction for business reasons. Sustainability is a condition for the (long-term) survival of business.

 

I am convinced that business is part of the CSR movement and not an opponent. The transition to a greener economy will not be easy, but going forward we will see more cooperation between business and NGO’s. Mark my words.