Tobacco companies are legally required to include product warnings and to limit advertising to prescribed media Domestically, they follow these rules, but in some Asian and African countries, which don't have these rules, cigarettes are heavily promoted. What approach to social responsibility does this BEST demonstrate? A. Obstructionist stance B. Proactive stance C. Defensive stance D. Accommodative stance E. Preemptive stance

The approach to social responsibility demonstrated by tobacco companies in this scenario is best described as a **Defensive stance** (Option C).<br /><br />### Explanation:<br />1. **Defensive Stance**: This approach involves companies taking minimal action to comply with regulations and societal expectations, often just enough to avoid legal repercussions or negative publicity. In this case, tobacco companies are only following the rules where legally required, but not going beyond that in countries without strict regulations.<br /><br />2. **Obstructionist Stance**: This would involve actively trying to avoid or undermine regulations and societal expectations. The companies in question are not obstructing but rather complying minimally.<br /><br />3. **Proactive Stance**: This involves companies taking initiative to address social issues and go beyond mere compliance. The companies here are not proactively promoting public health but are merely following the law.<br /><br />4. **Accommodative Stance**: This involves companies working collaboratively with stakeholders to find mutually beneficial solutions. The companies are not actively seeking to accommodate public health concerns in these regions.<br /><br />5. **Preemptive Stance**: This involves companies taking action to address potential issues before they arise. The companies are not preemptively addressing public health concerns but are only following the law where it is enforced.<br /><br />Therefore, the defensive stance best captures the behavior of tobacco companies in this scenario, as they are taking the minimum necessary steps to comply with regulations without taking additional actions to promote public health.