Institutional theory has been used in the study of CSR in developing countries. The chapter offers an insightful new conceptual framework that shows how differing expressions of CSR in developing countries are shaped by the institutional dimensions of the developing country’s institutional context. The chapter proposes a review of the application of institutional theory for CSR in developing countries and how the different comparative CSR frameworks have been used mostly for developed countries. Rather than using existing comparative institutional models such as Varieties of Capitalism (VOC) or National Business System (NBS), the chapter proposes a new theoretical lens to explore CSR in developing countries. Varieties of institutional systems (VIS) aims to expand the conversation on comparative institutional perspectives for CSR in developing countries. The chapter proposes a novel conceptual framework that combines Varieties of Institutional Systems (VIS) theoretical framework with the heterogeneous expressions of CSR in developing countries. This novel conceptual framework is used to explore which expressions of CSR should be implemented by firms in developing countries, depending on the VIS institutional dimensions. Based on the developing country’s institutional context and its institutional dimensions, described by the VIS framework, firms need to adopt a specific expression of CSR in developing countries.

The chapter will provide an original and innovative insight into sustainable finance by analysing social movements’ interaction with complex finance dynamics (CFDs) through elements of trustworthiness. In doing so, the paper will draw on data from an empirical qualitative study that traced the involvement of social movements in shaping three major legal CFDs, namely project finance, bond finance and pension finance on the sustainable finance market between 2015 and 2018. It will argue that social movements, who are, by tradition, in conflict with dominant paradigms, pose a perceptible competitive challenge to major stakeholders who shape the finance dynamics. Whilst the utilisation of the trustworthiness analytical framework proves useful in uncovering the conflict, it serves the main purpose of demonstrating the analytic competition between social movements and the major stakeholders. The author argues that social movements should take a more responsible stance towards sustainable finance and, logically, adopt a form of responsible principles that will govern their relationship with the major stakeholders shaping the CFDs. Further, the author drafts principles in this chapter and argues that, if adopted by social movements, these will improve their competitive advantage on the fast-paced sustainable finance market.

The chapter examines these standard form salvage contracts against the backdrop of sustainable development and whether they provide an appropriate balance between environmental protection and commercial outcomes in the narrow (the interests of salvors and property owners) and wider sense. It is shown that modern salvage operations involve at least two of the three recognised interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars of sustainable development (economic development, social development and environmental protection). The chapter illustrates the challenges faced by salvors in commercial salvage operations as the ones tasked with the furthering of potentially divergent interests (environmental and commercial) and explores the linkages between salvage operations and sustainable development. It examines environmental provisions in the LOF and SCOPIC demonstrating that while these contracts provide a de facto furthering of environmental outcomes, this is incidental to the commercial interests of the contracting parties. The contracts provide no direct basis to promote the environmental protection interests of third-party stakeholders. The chapter argues that the use of the stipulatio alteri could provide such a direct legal basis to address external stakeholders’ interests in environmental protection while ensuring an integrated and sustainable balancing with economic endeavour.

The chapter examines the link between upper echelons gender composition and firm sustainability performance. Gender composition is considered as the level of women on TMTs and boards. Specifically, it is considered whether presence of three or more women on company boards as well as TMTs influence sustainability performance. Thereby, the study incorporates new theoretical developments by conceptualizing gender level using critical mass concept. The sample also consists of top performing 100 firms in Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE) known as BIST 100. A dataset containing information of BIST 100 companies’ TMT members, board of directors, CEOs, as well as firm size, profitability, sustainability performance, and industry among others were constructed by using the data provided in PDP (Public Disclosure Platform). The findings of the study indicate that critical mass of women on board of directors is important for sustainability performance. In line with token theory and critical mass proposition, in the present sample, having three or more women directors on boards of directors improves the sustainability performance of companies.

Offshoring has become a popular practice for multinational corporations (MNCs), with emerging markets being regarded as attractive locations. Although offshore outsourcing has economic benefits, it also involves several ethical issues, such as poor working conditions, child labour and environmental pollution. To identify implications for how to establish ethical practices in MNCs’ offshoring operations, we discuss theoretical perspectives (i.e., institutional, instrumental and normative) on MNCs’ motivations for being socially and environmentally responsible. Based on a review of these perspectives, this chapter provides practical guidelines for both MNCs and policymakers, including (1) re-designing governance, (2) establishing industry-level action and (3) developing institutional capacity. Developing both public (e.g., government regulation) and private (e.g., corporate code of conduct) governance mechanisms is important. Also, MNCs should take collective action at the industry level. Lastly, MNCs should provide resources and capacity to outsourcing companies and local communities to contribute to alleviating ethical concerns in emerging markets.

This is a book about working in a particular place, a place ‘built around enjoyment and entertainment’2 as well as exploitation and excess. It is about how that place ‘works’ to shape the experiences and identities of those based there. Occupying less than a square mile, London’s Soho is something of a simultaneously global and local space. With its golden squares, red lights, black markets, pink neon, blue films and, most recently, rainbow flags, Soho has, throughout its history, been a colourful place in which to live, work and consume. Described rather affectionately by cultural historian Judith Walkowitz as a ‘land of lost causes’,3 and by author Nigel Richardson, who experienced Soho bohemianism in the 1950s first-hand, as both ‘bad and beautiful’, it is a place of ‘backstreet industry and below-stairs debauchery’, where those who want to stand out can and those who want to blend in can become invisible.

As a consequence of the meanings attached to the setting and sector, and to the landscaping of the spaces within and around Soho’s sex shops, a high level of discretion as well as presumed intimacy characterizes the sales-service relationship. As discussed in Chapter 3, encounters with customers are neither a direct sexual exchange nor a simple sexual aestheticization of the service interaction. Sitting somewhere between the two extremes of sex work and sexualized labour, retail sales work in a Soho sex shop is a kind of abject labour, in an abject work place. As will be discussed here, it is experienced and perceived as both compelling and unsettling by those who perform it.

Given the accelerating pace of information available in today’s world, our ability to be able to reflect critically on this information is more important today than ever before; but with the growth of social media and its unfortunate consequences – “fake news,” “post-truth,” and “truth decay” – critical reflection has become harder and harder to do. This apparent paradox, why “facts” and “evidence” seem to have so little effect on rational behavior, is explored, along with the research evidence on the self-reinforcing nature of confirmation bias and its sequelae, belief persistence, polarization, and tribalism.

The chapter considers the role of Islamic finance in promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in developing countries. The SDGs require unprecedented mobilization of funds to support their implementation. Given the social and moral ethos and emphasis on prohibition of riba (interest) and asset-backed financing, Islamic finance offers an effective non-traditional means of financing for sustainable development activities and projects in developing countries. This chapter demonstrates that the ideology of Islamic finance, its attributes, principles, products, instruments and institutions all tend to be well-suited to boosting the SDGs. It also shows that Islamic finance has great potential in supporting developing countries’ efforts to finance the SDGs agenda. Divided into seven sections, the chapter outlines sustainable development from an Islamic perspective, and the principles of Islamic finance, before assessing the role of Islamic financial institutions, sukuk (Islamic bonds), and Islamic social finance (zakat and waqf) in promoting the SDGs.