Community relations in the global mining industry: exploring the internal dimensions of externally orientated work

This article focuses on community relations in the mining industry, within the context of sustainable development, social responsibility and stakeholder engagement. Community relations is conceptualized as a three‐dimensional practice that involves: working for the company to understand local community perspectives; bridging community and company perspectives to generate dialogue and mutual understanding and; facilitating necessary organizational change to improve social performance. Key challenges of institutionalizing and professionalizing community relations within the mining industry are discussed. The article argues that at a conceptual level, community relations should be de‐linked from public relations if it is to gain strength as a professional domain of work.