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Corporate Social Responsibility and the United Nations Global Compact Initiative

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Corporate Social Responsibility and the Three Sectors in Asia

Part of the book series: Nonprofit and Civil Society Studies ((NCSS))

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to examine international efforts, specifically, the United Nations (UN) Global Compact, as a voluntary initiative aiming for enhancing corporate social responsibility (CSR ) in some selected countries in Asia. The chapter shows that in the Asian countries under discussion, with strong state intervention and a close state–business relationship, CSR initiatives are regarded as a function of global economy and social development. The government plays a key role in developing CSR as a top-down strategy, whereas businesses often use CSR initiatives as a strategic tool to improve their image. However, this highlights challenges, such as legitimacy and accountability , in the sense that both the state and market experience a set of external factors (e.g., globalization , social expectations of expanded business role) boosting interests in CSR, thereby eroding governmental power and scope in related affairs as well as cultural differences and value diversity, which make the monitoring and auditing of CSR initiatives within a company or country challenging. The chapter concludes that a normative issue regarding the monitoring process can arise as businesses are more likely to have a closer relationship with NGOs increasing, in turn, the potential risks of regulatory capture or co-optation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Public Administration, School of Public Affairs, Penn State University, Harrisburg, USA

    Triparna Vasavada & Sohee Kim

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  1. Triparna Vasavada
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  2. Sohee Kim
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Correspondence to Triparna Vasavada .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

    Samiul Hasan

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Vasavada, T., Kim, S. (2017). Corporate Social Responsibility and the United Nations Global Compact Initiative. In: Hasan, S. (eds) Corporate Social Responsibility and the Three Sectors in Asia. Nonprofit and Civil Society Studies. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6915-9_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6915-9_8

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-6913-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-6915-9

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