Affiliations: School of Management (SOM) of Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU), Xi'an, China
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Ronald Busse, School of Management (SOM) of Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU), No. 28, West of Xian Ning Road, Zip Code 710049 Xi'an, China. Tel.: +49 1573 6444076; E-mail: ronaldbusse@gmx.de.
Abstract: Has corporate social responsibility (CSR) ever been authentic, and if not, is that bad? This paper critically extends the lively debate on domestic versus overseas CSR in four ways: First, it identifies CSR to be a trouble spot in the global strategy field. Second, it amplifies the scope of a motive-related view on CSR. Third, it offers three disputable answers to the question if CSR cuts into profits. Fourth, it gets an interdisciplinary perspective on the so far rather management-focused board of the CSR boat. The article propels to advance CSR research as it shifts the agreed-upon spotlight of attention to advocate a less mainstream perspective: Does the driving force behind CSR matter?
Keywords: Corporate social responsibility, CSR, entrepreneurial motives, business ethics, authenticity, global strategy, duality, green-washing, social performance, financial performance
