The role of heterogeneous context shaping CSR practices in Russia

Abstract

Goal: this в paper investigates the diversity of corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in the Russian context. The purpose of this paper is to study how a heterogeneous context, commonly found in rising economies, shapes the emerging CSR practices of business organizations operating in Russia.

Methodology: an institutional perspective that draws on the contextual multilevel approach guides our study. In our theoretical framing we assume that organizational fields play a key role in shaping CSR practices. This is applied to empirical investigation of organizational CSR practices. To inform our analysis we used desk research and an empirical dataset that consists of interviews with local business owners and managers representing a wide range of business organizations operating in Russia.

Findings: based on an exploratory qualitative inquiry, we distinguish between four types of organizational CSR practices co-existing in Russia: global, crossvergent, authentic and irresponsible. Our findings demonstrate that business organizations populating one organizational field share homogeneous characteristics of CSR practices.

Originality and contribution: the distinctions among CSR practices of business organizations belonging to different organizational fields are explained by the markets where they operate, core stakeholders, response mechanisms to prevailing institutional pressures and the dominant legacy of CSR.

Keywords:

CSR practices, institutional theory, organizational fields, context, Russia