Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
6. International Conference Of Consumer Citizenship Network , Berlin, Almanya, 22 - 25 Mart 2009, cilt.6, sa.1, ss.71-79, (Tam Metin Bildiri)
The encouragement of consumerism has been justified on the economic argument that increasing demand would lead to growth, which would ultimately trickle down to benefit all. Under the conditions of globalization, however, the basic relationship between consumption and growth has been weakened because of the displacement of production to lesser developed countries (LDCs) along with the widening gap of consumption level between the developed countries (DCs) and LDCs. Consumption in the developed world has created socially and environmentally undesirable consequences all over the world. Unethical or irresponsible corporate practices have also made consumers become aware of these companies and turned them into consumer citizens mostly in developed countries. An opinion poll of 25,000 consumers over 20 countries has indicated the increasing importance consumers are putting on the social responsibility of companies. Although these findings verify the hypothesis that “the more that social interaction is de-territorialized, the more interrelations are taking place beyond the control of the nation-state; and the more the perception of (national) citizenship is weakened, the more the notion of corporate/ consumer, citizenship is growing globally.” Yet, we claim this increase is less, particularly in putting consumer citizenship in practice in LDCs. (Environics International News Release, “Consumers Worldwide Expect Business to Achieve Social as Well as Economic Goals,” (September 30, 1999).