Exploring place-based knowledge in cross-sectoral partnerships in tourism: Negotiating responsibility in a global auditing process

In the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) literature, particular attention is given to locality and local knowledge as essential aspects to be considered when planning and deploying CSR strategies. In this regard, cross-sectoral partnerships (CSPs) have been viewed as a suitable tool for integrating and understanding the local context related to business operations. Nevertheless, little is known about the role of place in relation to locality and CSPs. By drawing upon the notion of wicked problems, this article illustrates how place and their nonhuman actors contributes to the co-creation of local knowledge and responsibility meanings in the global market. To that end, we look into a CSP process aiming to promote animal welfare in a Nordic tourism destination. Our study shows that the tensions (e.g. different interests, value conflicts, uncertainty) within CSP emerge by the place and the human-nonhuman relationships embedded in that place. Not only the place produces knowledge about animal welfare and meanings of responsibility, but these knowledge and meanings reproduce the place too.