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4 - Domestic Adjudicative Institutions, Developing Countries and Sustainable Development: Linkages and Limitations

from Part I - Institutions, CSR Conceptualizations and Sustainable Development

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 December 2019

By
Onyeka K. Osuji  and
Paul U. Abba
Edited by
Onyeka Osuji ,
Franklin N. Ngwu  and
Dima Jamali
Onyeka Osuji
Affiliation:
University of Essex
Franklin N. Ngwu
Affiliation:
Pan-Atlantic University, Nigeria
Dima Jamali
Affiliation:
American University of Beirut
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Summary

The chapter draws insights from the institutional theoretic model to investigate the role of courts and other formal adjudicative institutions in promoting sustainable development. Its tripartite institutions framework emphasises the knowledge and communicative elements of sustainable development flowing from key social actors such as adjudicative institutions to other segments of society. Using environmental protection as a case study and making references to national laws and judicial decisions, the chapter demonstrates that adjudicative institutions can manifest a commitment to sustainable development, affirm applicable global standards influence other actors in, and segments of, society. It is argued that the regulatory role of adjudicative institutions includes constitutionalisation of sustainable development, empowerment of individuals and stakeholder groups and addressing vulnerability of victims while the normative role ensures the internalisation and transmission of sustainable development values. The cognitive role includes reshaping local practices by promoting effective glocalisation and appropriate corporate governance and social responsibility for sustainable development. While it shows adjudicative institutions as a key champion for sustainable development in the public and private spheres, the chapter proposes solutions to overcoming impediments to such as lack of explicit provisions, narrowly focusing on compensatory remedies, locus standi, forum non conveniens and choice of law.

Keywords

ConstitutionalisationCorporate GovernanceCorporate Social ResponsibilityCourtsDeveloping CountriesEnvironmentGlocalisationInstitutionsStakeholderSustainable Development
Type
Chapter
Information
Corporate Social Responsibility in Developing and Emerging Markets
Institutions, Actors and Sustainable Development
 , pp. 49 - 84
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2019

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