Chinese Human Rights Guidance on Minerals Sourcing: Building Soft Power

China’s economic engagement in Africa has been subject to criticism on social and environmental fronts. This analysis examines two sets of guidelines launched by the government-related China Chamber of Commerce of Metals, Minerals and Chemicals. Aiming to promote responsible investment in the minerals sector and due diligence to ensure socially responsible sourcing of minerals with a particular focus on human rights, the guidelines refer to international human rights standards and are designed to be consistent with guidance issued by the OECD. The article discusses the Chinese guidelines as responses to the international critique and concludes they are elements of China’s soft-power efforts meant to enhance the country’s reputation as a responsible actor on the global stage. The analysis comes from the perspective of China’s deployment of state-driven corporate social responsibility (CSR), its complex relationship with international human rights, and its engagement with the international business and human rights (BHR) regime

Social Transformation and Normative Change Through CSR Standards? China’s Engagement with International Labour Law in Domestic Guidance for the Textile Sector

Drawing on China’s international and national Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) engagement in the field of labour rights, this article discusses prospects for implementation and integration of international law standards through relatively non-politicized market oriented contexts. Contrary to the conventional approach in the West, China has explicitly engaged with CSR through hard law as well as guidance of a mixed regulatory character. In several cases this involves direct reference to international law standards among which some are in line with China’s stance in international debates while others less so. Chinese labour law is comprehensive, but implementation lacks behind due to lack of knowledge and weak institutions. In this context, CSR is deployed as a modality to help transform legal requirements into practice in business operations. The article argues that what may look like skirting the law may in fact promote strengthened implementation that supports social transformation and integration of international norms

Towards socially sustainable renewable energy projects through involvement of local communities:Normative aspects and practices on the ground

In Chapter 9, Karin Buhmann and her colleagues examine social implication of how climate change has spurred projects in Arctic countries to shift to low-carbon renewable energy sources. Several of these projects have been met by protests by local communities including Indigenous groups concerned with environmental and social impacts. These tensions underscore the need for stronger and meaningful involvement of communities and Indigenous groups and peoples in impact assessments and consultation processes in order to identify and address concerns from the local perspective. Based on cases from Sápmi, Greenland and Canada this chapter shows that renewable energy projects can have perversely negative impacts on community health and safety as well as the traditions and income-generating activities of Arctic Indigenous groups. The authors argue that the need for energy justice highlights the importance of approaching climate change responses and renewable energy transitions in ways that adequately address local concerns, needs and rights in a manner that is meaningful to those who may be adversely affected.Peer reviewe