CSR in Spain: The Contemporary Example of Karl Marxs Theoretical Concept

Mulya Purnama

Karl Marxs view on the struggles between classes might still be relevant for social change
analysis in the 21st century. According to Karl Marx, the structure of society is divided in to two
theoretical concepts namely: rock bottom and superstructure. Rock bottom refers to the people's
relations to the production, such as land, raw materials, labor and machines. Superstructure refers
to all other aspects of society, such as legal and political. Superstructure reflects the views that
those who hold economic domination will be the ruling class to control the perceptions and
viewpoints of the others. The changes in the structure of society will change productive force
that is the combination of the tools and machinery with human labour power. Consequently,
changes in productive force will change the mode of production, and ultimately will determine
the nature of the society (Crotty, 1998, pp. 119-120). Marxs thought as above is apt to explain
the process of social changes such as the institutionalization process of Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) in Spain.

Archel, Husillos and Spence (2011) in their observation of the institutionalization process of
CSR in Spain adopt the Bourdieusian method. This method describes a network of social
relations, hierarchically stratified according to the different types and quantities of capital held
(Archiel et al, 2011, p. 329). However, in their study, Archel et al. concluded that the process as a
government-led initiative, the article unable to explain the correlation between the actors in the
structure of society that cause the acceptance of CSR (Archiel et al, 2011, p. 327).

The case could be likened to the Karl Marxs theoretical concept of changes in the social stage.
The heterogeneous discourses between the dominant versus the heretic (Archiel et al., 2011, pp.
333-336) can be attributed to what is called by Marx as a fight between two classes in society:
the bourgeoisie and the proletariat that became the rock bottom of structure of society. While, the
CSR awareness campaign and the victory of the Socialist Party in the 2004 Spanish general
elections which then support the implementation of CSR (Archiel et al., 2011, pp. 331- 332)
should be matched with what Marx described as the superstructure of the structure of society.

The changing of the industrial relations due to the trade unions movement (Archiel et al, 2011,
p. 339) is likely related to what Marx suggested as the trigger of change in the productive force.
This change then leads the corporate sector to come to the consensus of CSR. In this sense, the
social structure had reconfigured the superstructure and hence determined the corporate sector's
consciousness to accept CSR.

The case is likely one of the contemporary example of Karl Marxs theoretical concept.
Therefore, employing Marxs theoretical concept might be better to analyze the case.

References:
Crotty, M. (1998), The Foundations of Social Research, St Leonards, Allen & Unwin.
Archel, P., Husillos, J. & Spence, C. (2011). The institutionalisation of unaccountability: loading
the dice of corporate social responsibility discourse, Accounting, Organizations and
Society, 36(6), 327-343.