... the authors take a balanced, practical and jargon-free tone well suited to their corporate audience ... The book is perhaps most valuable in terms of the overarching perspectives it attempts to impart to managers: that "community relations" activities are not the only, or even the most powerful, drivers of local perceptions of a project (for example, the impact of actual business operations on communities inevitably can be far more important); that an inclusive and respectful process of engagement is often more valuable than generous community investments made unilaterally by the company; and that all aspects of a company's operations which affect its "license to operate", from government relations to security policy, are better addressed as elements of a coherent strategy than through ad hoc fire-fighting. If managers were able to fully take these principles on board, much local opposition could no doubt be avoided. Read the full review - Rob Foulkes, Critical Resource.

MARY B. ANDERSON has written widely on humanitarian and development assistance in poor or warring societies. LUC ZANDVLIET is the Director of the Triple R Alliance.