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Is corporate social responsibility pursuing pristine business goals for sustainable development?
Author(s) -
Hoque Nazamul,
Rahman Abdul Rahim Abdul,
Molla Rafiqul Islam,
Noman Abu Hanifa Md.,
Bhuiyan Mohammad Zahid Hossain
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
corporate social responsibility and environmental management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.519
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1535-3966
pISSN - 1535-3958
DOI - 10.1002/csr.1527
Subject(s) - corporate social responsibility , business , social responsibility , business practice , public relations , meaning (existential) , sustainable development , face (sociological concept) , marketing , sustainable business , sustainability , political science , business administration , sociology , psychology , ecology , social science , law , psychotherapist , biology
There is a continuing academic debate on corporate social responsibility (CSR), its goals and practices, and its impact on business and society. Following this debate, this study has made a critical investigation of CSR practices of business enterprises with a view to examining their spirit, intentions and roles in terms of pristine business goals. After analyzing the contents of pertinent literature (126 articles, of which 89 are empirical) in both developed and developing country contexts, the study finds that corporate managers are still less concerned about the meaning and essence of pristine business goals and the true goals and role of CSR. They practice CSR largely in a voluntary philanthropic fashion to build public image and primarily enhance business profit, not necessarily for social wellbeing. Their CSR practices have been found to be more of a cosmetic and face‐saving marketing strategy, undermining the social wellbeing goal for sustainable development. The CSR movement, therefore, needs reformation.