The Social Responsibility of International Business: From Ethics and the Environment to CSR and Sustainable Development

Journal of World Business, 51(1), pp. 23-34, 2016

38 Pages Posted: 2 Aug 2015 Last revised: 9 Aug 2017

See all articles by Ans Kolk

Ans Kolk

University of Amsterdam Business School

Date Written: August 1, 2015

Abstract

This article examines how the international business (IB) literature has addressed social responsibility issues in the past 50 years, highlighting key developments and implications from a historical perspective. Specific attention is paid to the Journal of World Business (JWB), which has covered the whole period and published relevant articles related to these issues, in comparison to the Journal of International Business Studies (JIBS), the other long-standing IB journal. The article outlines that they illustrate different conceptualizations of IB and social responsibility. The 50-year review shows three subthemes: the (green) environment; ethics, rights and responsibilities; poverty and (sustainable) development. These are discussed consecutively, including main contributions and promising areas to further the field.

Keywords: CSR; ethics; sustainability; human rights; corporate social responsibility; poverty; multinationals; stakeholders; environmental management; green business; international business; international firms; sustainable development; international management

JEL Classification: D21, F21, F23, H26, H32, H70, I31, I32, J53, J58, K31, K32, L21, L22, L31, M1, M14, O19

Suggested Citation

Kolk, Ans, The Social Responsibility of International Business: From Ethics and the Environment to CSR and Sustainable Development (August 1, 2015). Journal of World Business, 51(1), pp. 23-34, 2016, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2638691

Ans Kolk (Contact Author)

University of Amsterdam Business School ( email )

Plantage Muidergracht 12
Amsterdam, 1018 TV
Netherlands
+31 20 525 4289 (Phone)
+31 20 525 5281 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.anskolk.eu

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