Man cannot exist outside of society. This axiom is known to all people from early childhood. Without society, it would be impossible to realize such a complex political and economic system as the state. And progress would also not exist, because no scientist could single-handedly invent and create the whole variety of inventions that humanity has presented to the world.
But a person has to pay for the opportunity to use various public goods. Taxes are just one way. Compliance with social laws and codes of conduct is completely different.
Social responsibility concept
What is social responsibility? Firstly, in simple terms, this is the responsibility that a person experiences before society. That is, a person recognizes and follows the rules established in the city and country where he lives. Speaking more officially, it is an individual's conscious responsibility to society, in accordance with which he behaves with other people, public organizations and even the state. The concept and types of social responsibility quite often have slightly more than one meaning. You could even say that they are very vague. Even sciences, for example, political science and sociology, understand it in accordance with various categories. But the concept and types of social responsibility still play a big role in people's lives. However, the essence is always the same: social responsibility is what the mutually beneficial relations of man and society are built on .
Types of Social Responsibility
There are many ways to share social responsibility. But, perhaps, the main and main among them is the division into perspective and retrospective. So what are they like?
Prospective responsibility. As the name implies, this is an individual's understanding of the entire depth of his responsibility to society, which prevents him from committing unlawful acts. That is, prospective responsibility is responsible for how a person will behave in the future. Meanwhile, it refers to the actions of the individual in the present tense, to the extent to which he fulfills his duties in relation to society. This type of responsibility is extremely close to social norms.
Retrospective liability. Unlike prospective liability, it primarily refers to punishments for committed acts. In other words, it is a responsibility for the past. In the overwhelming majority of cases, lawyers have in mind precisely retrospective responsibility, because no country in the world has yet been punished for thoughts, desires and intentions for which no preparation has been made. Retrospective responsibility is very closely related to the consequences of unlawful acts and how serious or easy they were.
But at the same time, one cannot assume that there are no other types of social responsibility. They exist and are associated primarily with retrospective responsibility. That is, they are subdivided in accordance with what sphere of society includes an illegal act. However, the types of social responsibility differ in different sciences. For example, in jurisprudence there is political, moral, professional, social responsibility and many others. And in the field of sociology, the list is much smaller. There is only moral, legal, economic and political responsibility.
The first variety. Legal liability
Legal liability as a form of social responsibility is characterized by the application of various penalties to the offender. Its main difference is that the person who finds the offender condemns him and pronounces the verdict, this is the state. Also, legal liability is associated only with violations of the rules. This type of social responsibility does not respond in any way to following the law. There are also several types of punishments: political (loss of authority among citizens), physical (restriction of freedom), property (fine) and moral (public condemnation). The size of punishments and the rule that the person violated are also clearly defined. No one can be convicted of non-compliance with a non-existent law.
The second variety. Moral responsibility
Morality also refers to the main types of social responsibility. It happens in front of oneself, in front of other people and in front of society as a whole. Moral responsibility, which is part of social responsibility, most often draws attention only to the second two options. Especially moral responsibility to others. But what a person does with his life remains on his conscience and has nothing to do with guilt. This applies to internal forms of social responsibility, and not external. But the third variety is very similar to the second. Both there and there, a person feels guilty for what he has done in relation to other people. That's just social responsibility to society is somewhat impersonal. Suppose if a person has not ceded a place in the subway, bus or trolley to a pregnant woman, then this is a responsibility to others. And if he threw cigarette butts on the road or allowed his dog to relieve his needs near the playground, then this is a responsibility to society.
The punishment that provides moral responsibility in all its manifestations is, firstly, public condemnation, and secondly, guilt. Under the law, a violation of moral standards is not prosecuted.
The third variety. Political responsibility
It is possible that this is one of the most famous types of social responsibility. Despite this fact, society alone in very rare cases can affect the state of affairs in the field of politics. Relations between different states are mostly coordinated by the ruling elites of these competing countries or confederations. The United Nations Charter, adopted and signed at the end of the Second World War in the year nineteen forty-fifth in the city of San Francisco, allows the use of various measures in relation to individual states or alliances of states only if the actions of these states contradict the peaceful resolution of conflicts or even violate stability in the global community. Moreover, the application of various punishments is allowed only if the United Nations Security Council decides that the aggressor country is truly guilty. The difference in political responsibility lies in the fact that punishment comes not only for an unlawful act, but also for the inability to resolve political and economic issues through diplomatic means. This type of social responsibility is perhaps the most destructive of all.
Types of punishment
First of all, this is the termination of diplomatic relations. Also, according to the decision of the Security Council, various economic sanctions may be applied. It is likely to interrupt trade and monetary relations with the state, which was recognized as aggressive. Communications such as transport and telephone communications will also be at risk: they can be interrupted at any time. Members of the United Nations often refer to blockades, public speaking and protests as ways to pacify a country that violates a peaceful and secure society. And in the most extreme case, the UN uses naval, air and ground forces.
The fourth variety. Economic responsibility
This type of social responsibility relates primarily to individual entrepreneurs. For non-compliance with economic norms and rules, as well as for the execution by the subject of these requirements, but not to the extent necessary, a penalty is imposed. In the vast majority of cases, the offender is a legal entity, and the state is the one who condemns him. According to the results of the trial, the offender is either completely exempted from all charges, or undertakes to indemnify the injured person in material or monetary form. Also, various economic sanctions can be a kind of punishment. But what exactly can be called an economic sanction? First of all, the deprivation of various benefits, the announcement of an economic boycott, the termination of any economic relations with a legal entity. The court may also decide that the violation is so serious that it is necessary to freeze all the credits of the offender.
The fifth variety. Professional responsibility
The types and forms of social responsibility are diverse, and here is another one of them. Professional responsibility is characterized primarily by the harmful consequences that an outsider experiences as a result of a conscientious or, on the contrary, unprofessional performance by a person of his duties. It is the responsibility of the journalist or publicist for the quality and reliability of the material they provide. And the responsibility of the physicist, chemist, biologist and any other scientist for the truth of the result he received and for the fact that their professional conclusions and findings will not bring significant harm to society. Also, professional liability includes harm to civilians during an operation conducted by police officers. If, due to the construction of any object, a third party suffers, then the construction organizers or the builders themselves will also have to face the consequences of violation of professional responsibility.
That is, the concept of professional responsibility can be expressed by the fact that each person is responsible for the work he has done. And if someone makes a mistake in the course of his professional activity, then he must be seriously punished for it.
The fifth variety. Social responsibility
If a certain person committed some act, and as a result of it unauthorized persons were injured, then the offender must be punished. In the vast majority of cases, public organizations are the judge and prosecutor. They can force the perpetrator of the wrongful act to publicly apologize to the victim or to resort to the method of public conviction. Reprimand is another possible punishment. As well as a decrease in wages, the proposal to the head that the offender must be removed from his post. Sometimes they can even direct them to correctional labor.
Most often, the problem is solved at the same enterprise where it started.
But social responsibility is just a prototype of a more serious social responsibility.
Sixth variety. Corporate Responsibility
Sometimes the same concept is called a little differently: social responsibility of business. Each professional organization or enterprise is responsible not only to its employees, but also to other organizations, to society, the city and even the whole country. Firms are required to be responsible for how their work affects the environment, society and the country's economy. Unlike legal, corporate responsibility is more voluntary, and a company may fulfill some types of corporate social responsibility, but not fulfill others. This whole system is much closer to moral responsibility than to legal. However, some social obligations of the corporation are established in the legislation.
For example, the types of corporate social responsibility include the fact that the organization is obliged to provide consumers with goods and services that meet mandatory quality standards. And employees should not work beyond the time prescribed by law. The work of the organization should not degrade the environment. The company can also voluntarily help the state improve the area in which the company’s branches are located and provide all possible assistance to social minorities. Protecting the country's cultural heritage is also on the list of what any organization can do if it wants. Also, the types of social responsibility of business include the fact that an organization can provide employees with working conditions in which they can improve their qualifications and acquire new skills at their workplace. Firms are also required to provide jobs, issue white salaries, and conduct business in accordance with tax, labor and environmental laws. The activities of the organization should also be effective and not contradict ethical and moral standards. Without exception, all firms are encouraged to help develop society as a whole.
But all these requirements and possibilities are rather vague. The United Nations offers a clearer classification. They divide the types of internal corporate social responsibility into two subspecies: internal and external.
Domestic
It is not so difficult to imagine what this subspecies is. A safe and comfortable workplace, the provision of decent pay and continuing education courses - all this refers to the types of internal corporate social responsibility. There are many more varieties. For example, the forms and types of internal social responsibility of a business also include giving employees the right to vote.
External
But everything related to ecology, environment and consumers refers to another subspecies. This is the essence of the division of types of corporate social responsibility.