Arctic petroleum: local CSR perceptions in the Nenets region of Russia
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify and discuss perceptions of petroleum-related corporate social responsibility (CSR) among local and regional authorities, local peoples (indigenous and non-indigenous) and representatives of petroleum companies working or living in the Nenets Autonomous Okrug (NAO) in the Russian Arctic. Although the CSR literature comprises a broad spectrum of approaches, an underrepresentation of perspectives from non-business stakeholders has been suggested. The paper seeks to redress this gap.
Design/methodology/approach
The data are obtained through 34 in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted and qualitatively analysed to extrapolate perceptions, views and expectations of petroleum-related CSR in NAO. By exploring needs, wants and expectations, differences are identified between short-term expectations and long-term perspectives.
Findings
A central feature of the authors’ findings is the wide variation in the responses not only between community groups and sectors but also within them. The complexity identified is an argument in favour of local involvement to understand local contexts and suggests avoiding “one-size fits all” CSR approaches. Challenges and opportunities are identified for the petroleum companies in dealing with different stakeholders and diverging interests.
Research limitations/implications
The importance of local context means that caution is advised when considering the transferability or generalisability of lessons, within NAO and elsewhere in and outside the Russian Arctic. Furthermore, fundamental motivations are not always transparent from interviews.
Originality/value
Although a rich literature exists on CSR, this is perhaps the first study providing a cross-sectoral analysis of people’s perceptions, including those of non-business stakeholders, in this region.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This article was written as part of the research project “Petroleum Extraction and Sustainability: Corporate and Community Perspectives in Northern Norway and the Russian Arctic” funded by the Research Council of Norway under its NORRUSS programme. The interview guide was developed by members of the project team: Julia S. P. Loe (FNI), Elana Wilson Rowe (NUPI) and Emma Wilson (ECW Energy). Special thanks to Nadezda Nazarova and Lars Petter Lunden who joined the first author on separate field trips as research assistants and translators. Special thanks also to our interviewees for taking the time to meet us and share their thoughts and insights with us. Thanks to Arild Moe for commenting on the draft manuscript.
Citation
Loe, J.S.P., Kelman, I., Fjærtoft, D.B. and Poussenkova, N. (2017), "Arctic petroleum: local CSR perceptions in the Nenets region of Russia", Social Responsibility Journal, Vol. 13 No. 2, pp. 307-322. https://doi.org/10.1108/SRJ-10-2015-0150
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited