Tracking CSR Communication Research Within the Chinese Context: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Considering the globalization of corporate social responsibility (CSR), China has become an important and distinctive market for CSR practice and research. Communication, as a fast-growing subfield of CSR research, has made substantial contributions to the theorization of CSR yet has been dominated by Western contexts. To provide a contextualized view of CSR communication, this study systematically examined the 88 articles of CSR communication research published in peer-reviewed journals with a focus on the Chinese context. Findings revealed the unique characteristics of Chinese CSR and the status of Chinese CSR communication literature in terms of publication trend, authorship/institution, RQ/Hypothesis, research topics, research context, theoretical frameworks, and methodological approaches. In addition, this study identified gaps in the current Chinese CSR communication research. It offered directions for future development regarding strengthening conceptual development, innovating methodological approaches, and expanding research topics and scopes.

Notes From the Editors – Leveraging Effective Altruism: CSR Communication That Pays It Forward

“…This innovative clarity assimilates diverse viewpoints and resolves certain debates about what CSR communication really entails (Hua, 2020; Verk et al, 2021). Dong et al (2023) model can be summarized as follows. “The communicative approach represents an alternative understanding of CSR communication, conceptualizing CSR communication as a process of socially constructing reality via symbolic encounters and open debate” (p. 5).…”

“…The next article again explores generalizability and fosters meaning by offering a broad overview of context specific CSR communication research in Chinese settings. “Tracking CSR Communication Research Within the Chinese Context: A Systematic Literature Review” by Dong et al (2023), produces an inclusive, longitudinal synthesis of CSR communication scholarship, and creates a valuable resource for future scholarship and more astute organizational approaches. While the authors acknowledge that much CSR communication knowledge and many related practices are consistent on a global platform, adopting cultural nuances are vital to enhance their efficacy.…”

The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility Transparency and Corporate Governance Transparency on the Performance of Public Listed Companies in Malaysia

“…Lee and Hu (2018) explored the relationships among CSR, corporate reputation, and financial performance, developing an integrated sustainability model based on CSR perspectives and stakeholder theory (Khanal et al, 2021). Kumar et al (2022) proposed a reconstructed three-dimensional CSR model, incorporating business responsibilities, stakeholders, and CSR approaches (Dong et al, 2023). Singh (2021) emphasized the need for theory development to understand how organizations strategically perceive CSR for mutual benefit (Pahuja, 2023).…”

The Performance of Corporate Social Responsibility Communication in the Web2.0 Era: A Bibliometric Analysis of CSR Communication in Social Media Field

“…As a rapidly developing subfield, corporate social responsibility communication has been favored by more and more scholars. (Dong et al, 2023). Between 2007 and 2023, the number of CSR communication studies on social media shows a steady upward trend.…”