Sorour, M Karim and Shrives, Philip and Sakhawy, Ahmed and Soobaroyen, Teerooven (2021) Exploring the Evolving Motives Underlying Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Disclosures in Developing Countries: The Case of ‘Political CSR’ Reporting. Accounting Auditing and Accountability Journal, 34 (5). pp. 1051-1079. DOI https://doi.org/10.1108/AAAJ-07-2019-4080
Sorour, M Karim and Shrives, Philip and Sakhawy, Ahmed and Soobaroyen, Teerooven (2021) Exploring the Evolving Motives Underlying Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Disclosures in Developing Countries: The Case of ‘Political CSR’ Reporting. Accounting Auditing and Accountability Journal, 34 (5). pp. 1051-1079. DOI https://doi.org/10.1108/AAAJ-07-2019-4080
Sorour, M Karim and Shrives, Philip and Sakhawy, Ahmed and Soobaroyen, Teerooven (2021) Exploring the Evolving Motives Underlying Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Disclosures in Developing Countries: The Case of ‘Political CSR’ Reporting. Accounting Auditing and Accountability Journal, 34 (5). pp. 1051-1079. DOI https://doi.org/10.1108/AAAJ-07-2019-4080
Abstract
Purpose: This paper seeks to investigate to what extent (and why) CSR reporting in developing countries reflect instrumental and/or ‘political CSR’ motivations, and the types of organisational legitimacy sought in these circumstances. Design/Methodology/Approach: We adopt a theoretical framework based on the neo-institutional theory, ‘political CSR’ framework and types of organisational legitimacy. This interpretive research is set in the Egyptian context post-2011 revolution. We first carry out a content analysis of web disclosures for 40 banks in 2013 and 2016 to ascertain the nature of CSR activities and any changes over time. Second, we draw on 21 interviews to tease out the implications of the change in societal expectations due to the revolution, and to deepen our understanding of the organisational motivations underlying CSR reporting. Findings: Following the 2011 revolution, the banks’ CSR reporting practices have gradually shifted from a largely instrumental ‘business-case’ perspective towards a more substantive recognition of a wider set of societal challenges consistent with a political CSR perspective. Overall, the maintaining/gaining of legitimacy is gradually bound to the communication of accounts about the multi-faceted ‘socially-valued’ consequences or structures performed by banks. Our interview data shows that participants reflected on the legitimation challenges brought by the revolution and the limits of ‘transactional’ strategies involving traditional constituents; with a preference for pursuing consequential and structural forms of moral legitimacy. Research limitations/implications: This study demonstrates a constructive shift by businesses towards engaging with the new social rules in response to socio-political changes and the need to achieve moral legitimacy. Hence, policy makers and stakeholders could consider engaging with different economic sectors to foster more transparent, accountable, and impactful CSR practices. Originality: We highlight the implications of Scherer and Palazzo’s political CSR approach for accountability and CSR reporting. CSR reporting in some developing countries has typically been seen as peripheral or a symbolic exercise primarily concerned with placating stakeholders and/or promoting shareholders’ interests. We suggest that researchers need to be instead attuned to the possibility of a blend of instrumental and normative motivations.
Item Type: | Article |
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Uncontrolled Keywords: | social reporting; Political CSR; Developing nations; Banks; Legitimacy |
Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences Faculty of Social Sciences > Essex Business School |
SWORD Depositor: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Depositing User: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Date Deposited: | 09 Oct 2020 10:45 |
Last Modified: | 30 Oct 2024 16:31 |
URI: | http://repository.essex.ac.uk/id/eprint/28876 |
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Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution 3.0