Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies

Anne BIrgitta Pessi

Deputy Director
Th.D., Docent in Theology (Univ. of Helsinki) and in Sociology (Univ. of Eastern Finland), Academy Research Fellow

CV Europass
Publications 3.3.2011
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Mailing address:
Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies
P.O. Box 4
FIN-00014 University of Helsinki
Finland

Tel +358-(0)9-191 23453                      
Fax +358-(0)9-191 24509
Email anne.b.pessi(AT)helsinki.fi

Areas of Expertise:

• Sociology of religion
• Altruism studies
• Non-profit sector and volunteerism
  

Research Title and Abstract:

Institutions of Good Life − Different Yet Similar: Church and Corporate Social Responsibility as Horizons of Significance

In Western late-modern societies we seem live in the midst of a paradox: our economic and welfare resources are high, yet individuals seem somewhat lost what comes to their choice-making, values, time spending, and experiences of `good life´. The situation may be called the `paradox of good life´. For instance, our society both strives high in economics and suffers from severe challenges, such as, increasing income differences, loneliness, and increasing mental problems The paradox is deepened by transformation of communality and networks.

This paradox of good life deeply reflects the nature of our time − late-modernity − itself. Charles Taylor is his insightful analysis of our times has written about the `three malaises´ of modernity: individualism, primacy of instrumental reason, and rise of industrial-technological bureaucracy. Together they cause moral relativism and need for horizons of significance. He notes: “What our time seems to call for is a complex, many-levelled struggle, intellectual, spiritual, and political, in which the debates in the public arena interlink with those in a host of institutional settings”. It is exactly the core question of these `horizons of significance´ and `institutional settings´ that my research proposal is inspired by. Also my recent work has strongly indicated in the level of empirics the elements that Taylor describes. Thus, where to find such `horizons of significance´, such institutional settings to be used as reference-points for values and meanings?

In the midst of the current paradox of good life, studying the role of two divergent cases in relation to possible `horizons of significance´ provides a fascinating, yet challenging, task. The church and the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of large corporations are different yet similar: notwithstanding their apparent differences, both face surprisingly high expectations as `institutions of good life´, concerning activities in welfare and solidarity promotion.My research thus aims to study the horizons of significance of Finns, and particularly the role and expectations Finns pose to 1) the Evangelical Lutheran church of Finland and 2) large corporations´ CSR in welfare and solidarity promotion. To put these findings into fruitful reflection my five-year research project will include the viewpoint of the church and CSR themselves.

This empirical research utilizes as its main theory framework the writings by Taylor, as well as sociological frameworks of de-differentation, late-modernity, particularly in relation to altruism and solidarity (used also in my recent works). Methods include analysis of interviews (individuals and focus groups) and written documents, as well as a background survey (already collected for ongoing research).

My research project fundamentally builds on recent and on-going international projects and my strong profile in international research networks. This project also benefits from active international, interdisciplinary co-operation (e.g., with London School of Economics) – as well from my active work in research supervision (masters and doctoral students, not only in Finland), and also in popularizing science (media, etc).

This innovative research project will yield fundamentally critical knowledge on the present-day role of religion and CSR in transforming welfare, trust and solidarity. In the midst of the `paradox of good life´ this is vital and fascinating information that can be further utilised in various topics, in various academic fields − as well as in praxis – in truly interdisciplinary manner.