Corporate social responsibility, irresponsibility, and the multinational enterprise environment

The conversation around the corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate social irresponsibility (CSI) of firms has flourished—yet perhaps surprisingly, outside of the international business (IB) strategy discipline. This chapter introduces CSR/CSI as a “grand challenge” with potential to advance the IB strategy agenda. The chapter proposes that there is much to be gained by introducing ideas from IB strategy to understand the relationship between the multinational enterprise (MNE) and CSR/CSI. Major perspectives on, and interconnectedness between, CSR and CSI are articulated. The chapter traces common themes such as the role played by the business context, paying particular attention to location and regulatory institutions in the character and management of CSR/CSI. The chapter concludes with an agenda for future CSR/CSI research in the field of IB strategy that addresses some existing knowledge gaps around the influence of the MNE on its environment.