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55 Int'l J.L. & Mgmt. 5 (2013)

handle is hein.journals/ijlm55 and id is 1 raw text is: The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at www.emeraldinsight.com/1754-243X.htm Local action groups: accountability, social responsibility and law Fitima David and Rute Abreu Polytechnic Institute of Guarda, Guarda, Portugal, and Odete Pinheiro ADERES - Associagdo de Desenvolvimento Local Estrela Sul, Cortes do Meio, Portugal Local action groups 5 Abstract Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the issues of accountability, social responsibility and law related with local action groups (LAGs) to achieve local economic and sustainable development. Design/methodology/approach - The literature review justifies the conceptual frame of the issues under discussion. Thus, on the one hand, the LEADER+ programme system statistics were used and, on the other hand, the Portuguese Government and European Union laws, regulations and official documents were used. Findings - LAGs represent civil society in its various aspects and interests, assuming many times as privileged partners of the State, strengthening the rights of individual citizens against the political and economic power. Also, the LAGs as partners have specific local conditions, such as historical, social and cultural identities, governance and geography, that should be equally considered. Research limitations/implications - The results of the paper show accountability limitations, but the LAG is developed as a source of indispensable and fundamental information for the decision-making process of local sustainability. Practical implications - LAGs sometimes, forgetting their real purpose, follow socially responsible practices, often, to apply the strict compliance with the law, regulations and norms, even if social responsibility strategies are arguably recognized as crucial to promote economic success, social and life quality, and environmental sustainability. Social implications - The challenges of local development in which the citizen, firms, entities and policy makers are merged need sophisticated and comprehensive strategies and socially responsible best practices to promote the welfare of the society. Originality/value - This paper identifies case studies that highlight different strategic approaches to recognize the importance of the LAGs in the implementation of sustainable policies and social responsibility strategies. Also, different levels of accountability, social responsibility and law are applied and promoted by LAG. Keywords Social responsibility, Law, Local action groups, Accountability, Pressure groups Paper type Research paper 1. Introduction Around the world, several localities face firms closing or leaving, unemployment and severe economic problems. Also, the degradation and depletion of natural resources, restructuring of societies, and the development of new technologies have usually been so slow as to be imperceptible (Meadows and Randers, 1992). Furthermore, these happen too much and interact with desertification and the population decrease of H International Journal of Law and Management Vol. 55 No. 1, 2013 pp. 5-27 © Emerald Group Publishing Limited 1754-243X DOI 10.1105/17542431311303796

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