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Corporate Social Responsibility and International Development: Critical Assessment

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  • Jędrzej G. Frynas

Abstract

Manuscript Type: Conceptual Research Question/Issue: This article critically evaluates recent claims about the positive role that corporate social responsibility (CSR) could play in contributing to international development goals such as poverty alleviation and health improvements. Research Findings/Results: The article suggests that many recent claims about the positive contribution of CSR to international development are unjustified based on four arguments: (1) lack of empirical evidence; (2) analytical limitations of CSR; (3) the constraints of the business case for CSR; and (4) unresolved governance questions. Theoretical Implications: On the one hand, the article implies that private firms are unlikely to act as successful development actors without corporate governance reforms, which would align the interests of non‐traditional stakeholders with corporate interests. On the other hand, the article implies that international development priorities may misalign the intrinsic interests of shareholders and company executives. Practical Implications: The current CSR agenda seems inappropriate for addressing international development goals.

Suggested Citation

  • Jędrzej G. Frynas, 2008. "Corporate Social Responsibility and International Development: Critical Assessment," Corporate Governance: An International Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 16(4), pages 274-281, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:corgov:v:16:y:2008:i:4:p:274-281
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8683.2008.00691.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Ralf Barkemeyer & Frank Figge & Diane Holt, 2013. "Sustainability-Related Media Coverage and Socioeconomic Development: A Regional and North–South Perspective," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 31(4), pages 716-740, August.
    2. Ralf Barkemeyer, 2011. "Corporate perceptions of sustainability challenges in developed and developing countries: constituting a CSR divide?," Social Responsibility Journal, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 7(2), pages 257-281, July.
    3. Ioanna Boulouta & Christos Pitelis, 2014. "Who Needs CSR? The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on National Competitiveness," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 119(3), pages 349-364, February.
    4. Jorge Alejandro Silva, 2024. "Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability in Water Supply: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-29, April.
    5. Iskandar Zainuddin Rela & Abd Hair Awang & Zaimah Ramli & Yani Taufik & Sarmila Md Sum & Mahazan Muhammad, 2020. "Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility on Community Resilience: Empirical Evidence in the Nickel Mining Industry in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-17, February.
    6. Xiping Pan & Jinghua Sha & Hongliang Zhang & Wenlan Ke, 2014. "Relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility and Financial Performance in the Mineral Industry: Evidence from Chinese Mineral Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(7), pages 1-25, June.
    7. Christos Pitelis, 2013. "Towards a More ‘Ethically Correct’ Governance for Economic Sustainability," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 118(3), pages 655-665, December.
    8. Kolk, Ans & van Tulder, Rob, 2010. "International business, corporate social responsibility and sustainable development," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 19(2), pages 119-125, April.
    9. Ackah-Baidoo, Abigail, 2012. "Enclave development and ‘offshore corporate social responsibility’: Implications for oil-rich sub-Saharan Africa," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 152-159.
    10. Lukman Raimi & Mirela Panait & Adriana Grigorescu & Valentina Vasile, 2022. "Corporate Social Responsibility in the Telecommunication Industry—Driver of Entrepreneurship," Resources, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-23, September.
    11. Harriet Bulkeley & Andrew Jordan & Richard Perkins & Henrik Selin, 2013. "Governing Sustainability: Rio+20 and the Road beyond," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 31(6), pages 958-970, December.
    12. Witold J. Henisz & Sinziana Dorobantu & Lite J. Nartey, 2014. "Spinning gold: The financial returns to stakeholder engagement," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(12), pages 1727-1748, December.
    13. Cecile Renouard, 2011. "Corporate Social Responsibility, Utilitarianism, and the Capabilities Approach," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 98(1), pages 85-97, January.
    14. Orest Shytaj, 2021. "Vertical Jump to Female and Male Basketball Players in Albania," European Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies Articles, Revistia Research and Publishing, vol. 6, ejms_v6_i.
    15. Alex Osei-Kojo & Nathan Andrews, 2020. "A developmental paradox? The “dark forces” against corporate social responsibility in Ghana’s extractive industry," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 1051-1071, February.
    16. David Littlewood, 2014. "‘Cursed’ Communities? Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Company Towns and the Mining Industry in Namibia," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 120(1), pages 39-63, March.
    17. Simon Joncourt & Heiko Gebauer & Javier Reynoso & Karla Cabrera & Ana Valdes & Katharina Greve, 2019. "Extending the Base-of-the-Pyramid Concept," Service Science, INFORMS, vol. 11(3), pages 241-261, October.
    18. Glenn Banks, 2014. "Drilling and Digging: Extractives, Institutions and Development," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 45(1), pages 191-204, January.

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