Question by b: Definition of Stakeholder?
Hi. I am doing a project about China’s environment, and am confused on the definition of stakeholder. Is a stakeholder a person/group that causes issues or is a stakeholder people who are affected by certain issues, or both?

For example:

The Yangtze River is polluted with agruicultural and industrial waste, and is not suitable for human use.

Would the stakeholder of this situation be farmers and factory workers because they are making the waste pollute the river, or would the stakeholder be Chinese villagers because they cannot use the water and are affected by this. Or would the stakeholders be both the villagers and farmers/factory workers?

Please don’t say look on Dictionary.com or give me a definition from the dictionary. Please explain in your own words to get Best Answer.

Thanks!

Best answer:

Answer by Mickey D
The term “stakeholder” has become very trendy in social sciences. You are right that it means those people who have an interest in something and may be affected. The stakeholders are not those people who necessarily have a voice in the issue, but those that probably should, because they are the ones who have an interest that will be affected by whatever decision or issue is being considered. In your example I would think they are all stakeholders.

What do you think? Answer below!