The world's largest corporate citizenship initiative - new book launched today

Dr Andreas Rasche, WBS Assistant Professor of Business in Society, is co-editor of a new book, The United Nations Global Compact: Achievements, Trends and Challenges, launched today at the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit in New York. The co-editor is Georg Kell, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact. The European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) and the Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative (GRLI) supported this book project.

The UN Global Compact defines itself as 'a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.'

The book reviews the first decade of the Compact's existence through chapters from respected scholars, practitioners from the business world and civil society, and Global Compact staff. They reflect on what the Compact has achieved, what trends it may have to respond to, and what challenges are ahead.

This publication is commended by several high-profile individuals including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Harvard-based academic John Ruggie.

Andreas commented "The idea for this book was created almost three years ago while I was a visiting scholar at the United Nations in New York. I think the book fills an important void in the literature on the Compact by blending academic voices with practitioners' experiences on the ground."