Economic globalization and the construction of China's corporate social responsibility

This paper presents theoretical reflections whose purpose is to discuss the performance of Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) and the fact that the impacts of their activities are the result of their management, despite their focus on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). For this purpose, we reviewed some of the main CSR concepts and reference documents to identify in which way this type of organization could be contributing to global inequality. Additionally, we describe the characteristics of the general orientation of CSR in these companies. The main results indicate that when moving to less developed countries, MNEs take advantage of the existing unequal conditions of income and precariousness of labor and environmental rules. The construction of a favorable image through CSR contributes to MNEs success, but at the cost of a complex and intense process of concentration of wealth and deepening of social inequality and poverty.

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Has globalization eroded firms’ responsibility for their employees? A sociological analysis of transnational firms’ corporate social responsibility policies concerning their employees in the Netherlands, 1980–2010

Business and Politics ◽

10.1515/bap-2012-0020 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 1-21

Author(s):

Sander Quak ◽

Johan Heilbron ◽

Romke van der Veen

Keyword(s):

Corporate Social Responsibility ◽

The Netherlands ◽

Social Responsibility ◽

Economic Globalization ◽

Labor Policy ◽

Economic Conditions ◽

Sociological Analysis ◽

Corporate Policies ◽

Sociological Approach ◽

Corporate Social

Since the 1970s many firms expanded their operations across national borders and were restructured to fit the changing economic conditions during these times of economic globalization. Using a sociological approach to transnational firms, in this article the authors research the consequences of these developments for the responsibility of two transnational firms towards their employees in the Netherlands. These firms experienced a shift in their dual embeddedness in national and transnational economic fields, with the latter gaining importance. In response, they adjusted their corporate policies and structure to fit the competitive conditions of these fields, causing a centralization of their corporate labor policy on the transnational level, the polarization of this policy and the instrumentalization of labor and labor policy. This also meant that their responsibility for their employees was restructured and reduced.

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Corporate social responsibility, economic globalization and developing countries

Sustainability Accounting Management and Policy Journal ◽

10.1108/sampj-04-2014-0028 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 166-189 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Mohammed Ziaul Haque ◽

Fara Azmat

Keyword(s):

Developing Countries ◽

Corporate Social Responsibility ◽

Social Responsibility ◽

Economic Globalization ◽

Content Type ◽

Key Issues ◽

One Year ◽

Export Industries ◽

Corporate Social

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the state of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in labour-intensive industries in developing countries in the context of economic globalization. Using the ready-made garments’ (RMG) industry in Bangladesh as a case study, challenges and key issues relating to CSR are highlighted. Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws from the review of existing literature, and the content analysis of two leading newspapers in Bangladesh for a period of one year (July 2012-June 2013) to identify the key and contemporary issues related to CSR in the RMG industry. Findings – Findings identify the contemporary issues of concerns associated with CSR in the RMG industry, relating them to the debate on the applicability of Carroll’s CSR pyramid to developing countries. The findings suggest that non-compliance of CSR in labour-intensive industries is a function of the nature of economic globalization. The need for a stakeholder approach towards CSR for the profitability and sustainability of this industry is also highlighted. Practical implications – This paper makes contributions to two different but important interrelated discourses on CSR and economic globalization. It also provides insights into the complexity involved in CSR in labour-based export industries in developing countries and acts as a springboard for further research. Originality/value – The paper is the first to look at all major issues of concern regarding CSR in the RMG industry in Bangladesh. As Bangladesh is an exemplar of developing countries and RMG is a typical starter industry, the findings are generalizable to similar industries in other developing countries.

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