Introduction

The United Nations Global Compact reflects a Global Public Policy Network bringing together UN agencies, corporations, civil society actors, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and labour representatives from all over the world. Today, the Global Compact provides the most far-reaching initiative worldwide to catalyse a voluntary participation of multinational corporations (MNCs) in corporate social responsibility activities (Arevalo and Fallon 2008, Kell and Levin 2003, Kell and Ruggie 1999, Leisinger 2007). The Compact offers a platform for businesses to advance ten Principles in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption (Kell 2005, Williams 2004). The core tasks of the Global Compact are to mainstream these principles in global business activities and to facilitate cooperation among those constituents who are willing to create multi-stakeholder engagement.

Unlike certification-based initiatives (e.g. SA 8000), the Compact has no intention to enforce or even measure the behaviour of firms participating in the initiative. The Global Compact rather intends to bring together a variety of different actors to discuss, learn about and advance its underlying principles (Kell 2005, Kell and Levin 2003, Rasche 2009b, Ruggie 2001, 2003, Williams 2004). Against this background the Global Compact can be considered as a strategic policy initiative for business focusing on the implementation of its ten Principles and the promotion of broader UN goals (Rasche 2009a).