Corporate Social Responsibility as Collaborative Governance? The PRC Approach in Comparative Perspective

Abstract

Over the past decade, governments at various levels across China have begun to introduce new measures to promote corporate social responsibility (企业社会责任) (CSR) as an explicit policy objective. The multifaceted and dynamic nature of CSR represents an ideal context in which to explore the potential for new relationships between the state, the business community, and civil society organizations in China. This paper applies collaborative governance theories of government engagement with businesses, citizen and industry groups, and other actors to examine the role of the state in promoting CSR in China. Adopting a comparative approach, this paper observes that CSR policies are largely state-driven and focused on enforcement of existing laws and regulations, although there is some evidence of cross-sectoral collaboration around the development and dissemination of CSR initiatives. These findings raise important questions about the meaning and viability of collaborative governance in China and the intersections of CSR and the law.