Sustainable development, corporate social responsibility and oil: The case of BP in the complex political games of Colombia

Sustainable development (SD) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) have become ubiquitous terms, used by multiple players in different contexts worldwide, but there is a lack of consensus on what they mean and how transnational oil companies (TNOC) can apply them effectively, serving their own purposes and the communities in which they operate. This thesis questions whether ideas of SD in worldwide discourse and of CSR in the practice of transnational oil companies (TNOC) lead to actual enhancement in the lives of people, their communities and environments. Identifying an evident disconnection between global societal goals, business' interests and communities' ways of living, the thesis answers the question: Why is there a gap between SD discourse, CSR practice and the actual outcomes of TNOC in terms of real improvement in people's lives? It examines discourses and practices associated with SD and CSR in the field of oil activities operated by BP in Colombia where, due to a complex interplay amongst the oil company, the state, local communities and others, such as guerrilla and paramilitary groups, the project has had contradictory outcomes that affect the living conditions of local people. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...