Abstract:In the current paper, our aim is to explore the latent power dynamics surrounding corporate social responsibility (CSR) in developing countries. To do this, we synthesize an analytic framework that borrows from both cross-cultural management literature (i.e., endogenous versus indigenous research) as well as feminist considerations of power (i.e., power over and power to). We then use the framework to examine three streams of CSR literature. Our analysis uncovers the prevalence of arguments and discussions abo… Show more
“…Relatedly, therefore, there is critical questioning of the inherent coupling of CSR and corporate financial performance (CFP) which leads to new research questions focused on probing the negative externalities of greater levels of CFP (e.g. Blowfield and Frynas 2005;Fig 2005;Hayhurst 2011) and alternative system considerations beyond market strategies (Mellahi et al 2016) and profit-seeking (Banerjee 2008;Karam and Jamali 2015).…”
Given the rising interest in corporate social responsibility (CSR) globally, its local expressions are as varied as they are increasingly visible in both developed and developing countries. This paper presents a multilevel review of the literature on CSR in developing countries and highlights the key differentiators and nuanced CSR-related considerations that qualify it as a distinctive field of study. This review entails a content analysis of 452 articles spanning two-and-a-half decades . Based on this comprehensive review, the authors identify the key differentiating attributes of the literature on CSR in developing countries in relation to depictions of how CSR is conceived or 'CSR Thinking' and depictions of how CSR is practiced and implemented or 'CSR Doing'. The authors synthesize from there five key themes that capture the main aspects of variation in this literature, namely: (1) complex institutional antecedents within the national business system (NBS); (2) complex macro-level antecedents outside the NBS; (3) the salience of multiple actors involved in formal and informal governance; (4) hybridized and other nuanced forms of CSR expressions; and (5) varied scope of developmental and detrimental CSR consequences. The paper concludes by accentuating how the nuanced forms of CSR in the developing world are invariably contextualized and locally shaped by multi-level factors and actors embedded within wider formal and informal governance systems.
“…Relatedly, therefore, there is critical questioning of the inherent coupling of CSR and corporate financial performance (CFP) which leads to new research questions focused on probing the negative externalities of greater levels of CFP (e.g. Blowfield and Frynas 2005;Fig 2005;Hayhurst 2011) and alternative system considerations beyond market strategies (Mellahi et al 2016) and profit-seeking (Banerjee 2008;Karam and Jamali 2015).…”
Given the rising interest in corporate social responsibility (CSR) globally, its local expressions are as varied as they are increasingly visible in both developed and developing countries. This paper presents a multilevel review of the literature on CSR in developing countries and highlights the key differentiators and nuanced CSR-related considerations that qualify it as a distinctive field of study. This review entails a content analysis of 452 articles spanning two-and-a-half decades . Based on this comprehensive review, the authors identify the key differentiating attributes of the literature on CSR in developing countries in relation to depictions of how CSR is conceived or 'CSR Thinking' and depictions of how CSR is practiced and implemented or 'CSR Doing'. The authors synthesize from there five key themes that capture the main aspects of variation in this literature, namely: (1) complex institutional antecedents within the national business system (NBS); (2) complex macro-level antecedents outside the NBS; (3) the salience of multiple actors involved in formal and informal governance; (4) hybridized and other nuanced forms of CSR expressions; and (5) varied scope of developmental and detrimental CSR consequences. The paper concludes by accentuating how the nuanced forms of CSR in the developing world are invariably contextualized and locally shaped by multi-level factors and actors embedded within wider formal and informal governance systems.
“…This quotation illustrates the instrumental nature of CSV, and that the value created is measured based on its capacity to generate wealth. Karam and Jamali () reiterate this point by stating that: Within management scholarship, attempts to build the business case for CSR predominate. These discussions more often than not expound instrumental logics in support of the idea that corporations are an instrument for wealth creation (Garriga and Melé 2004) or can strategically pursue avenues for shared value models of CSR (Porter & Kramer, ).…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…In this theme, authors note the lack of consideration for cultural norms, the disconnection between pursuit of social or environmental business opportunities and the social impacts of business activities, as well lack of consideration of contextual elements in applying CSV. As Karam and Jamali () state: Much research in this stream tends to adopt a focus on corporations in the developed world (i.e., North American, European) with a growing interest in firms from the larger emerging economies such as China and India. […] Throughout this stream economic and ethical justifications are separated and there is an ongoing “attempt to justify social behavior in economic terms, rather than as valuable in itself, and as integral to a healthy capitalist business system” (Kurucz et al, , p. 99).…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Several researchers pointed to the important role played by SMEs in developing contexts that stems from their embeddedness in communities (Amaeshi et al, ; Karam & Jamali, ). While MNCs are “often socio‐culturally detached from the communities they operate in, and rely on preconceived notions of engagement, which lack sufficient appreciation of the local context and stakeholder expectations,” SMEs present a “useful means of understanding how CSR can help confront institutional dilemmas in subtle ways, which improve business‐society interaction” (Amaeshi et al, , p. 396).…”
This article examines the concept of creating shared value (CSV) as articulated by Michael Porter and Mark Kramer, in non-Western and Western contexts. We define non-Western contexts as those in so-called "developing" countries and emerging economies, whereas Western ones pertain to dominant thinking in "developed" regions. We frame our research in postcolonial theory and offer an overview of existing critiques of CSV. We conduct a critical discourse analysis of 66 articles to identify how CSV is being cited by authors, and potential underlying power dynamics that affect its relevance for non-Western contexts. Our review exposes increasingly critical views about the paradoxical positioning of CSV as an instrumental concept that can offer "win-win" solutions, particularly from those working in non-Western settings. Western perspectives generally tend to be more supportive of its instrumental nature, but also recognize the increasing complexity of the business-society nexus and stakeholder engagement. We argue that the CSV framework requires further development to maintain credibility and applicability, especially in non-Western domains.
“…Power has long been a central concern in feminist scholarship and Karam and Jamali () have applied feminist thinking to their research on CSR. Grosser and Moon () review feminist organizational literature searching for the feminist theoretical lenses that have contributed to CSR or might do so.…”
Section: Locating the Human Subjects Of Development Relationsmentioning
Responding to the Special Issue's call for “new thinking” on gender and governance in developing societies, we introduce our research on the social organization of development knowledge and its ethical implications. Our feminist‐based approach, institutional ethnography, analyses the ruling relations of development and the standpoints represented in knowledge about development and its governance. Our paper offers an alternative to what we see as “the institutional standpoint” prevailing, but taken for granted, in business and society scholarship addressing development. Instead of theorizing development relationships between institutions and their “stakeholders,” we illustrate what can be learned about the social relations of development beginning from the experiences of local subjects. Our analysis of an environmental research and development project in Uzbekistan shows that being missed is knowledge about development subjects that could have revealed what is locally relevant and needed. Instead, we discover gender inequality being constituted, unknowingly, within this project's institutionally generated knowledge and the activities it authorizes.
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