Dependency: an inhibitor to the Irish case for corporate social responsibility

Abstract

This paper addresses the potential resurgence of the post-imperial 'dependency theory' of the 1960s and 1970s. Suggesting that the initial premise of the theory was just, the article proposes the reworking of the theory in order to incorporate globalisation processes, namely the importance of global capital generated by multi national corporations. Considering that capital is now at the 'core', leads to the idea of a much wider catchment of states 'dependent' on global capital. Using Ireland as an example, this article pursues the idea that a dependent state’s ability to implement corporate social responsibility legislation is inhibited by the constraints of capital.