Corporate Social Responsibility as a Private Governance Mechanism: Implications for CSR in Different Institutional Contexts

The meaning and practice of corporate social responsibility across cultures and national boundaries are central to the success of CSR in the context of globalization. In the recent past, some business scholars began to explore the contextual frameworks of CSR in different institutions and cultures. 1 For instance, the Journal of Corporate Citizenship ran special issues focusing on corporate social responsibility in Asia (2004), Africa (2005), and Latin America (2006). These studies challenge the underlying presumptuousness in the conceptualization of CSR principles in the West as universally applicable guidelines for business theory and practice. A recurring theme among the various studies is the claim that the understanding and practice of corporate social responsibility are to a reasonable degree predicated on sociocultural factors.