Proto-CSR Before the Industrial Revolution: Institutional Experimentation by Medieval Miners’ Guilds
Stefan Hielscher|Bryan W. Husted
Abstract In this paper, we argue that antecedents of modern corporate social responsibility (CSR) prior to the Industrial Revolution can be referred as “proto-CSR” describe a practice influenced CSR, but which is different from its counterparts in form and structure. We develop our argument with history miners’ guilds medieval Germany—religious fraternities secular mutual aid societies. Based on historical data collected by historians archeologists, reconstruct long-term process pragmatic experimentation institutions address problems early mining industry, thus before rise state capitalist firm. Co-shaped economic political actors, these have programs industrialists, welfare legislation, contemporary CSR. conjecture other elements proto-CSR might evolved according similar trajectories.
Journal of Business Ethics