Corporate Social Responsibility for Sustainable Development in China. Recent Evolution of CSR Concepts and Practice within Chinese Firms

Considering the current global crisis and the rising awareness on environmental and social issues in different fields, also businesses should prepare to face with the new policies and regulations that are more sustainable than have ever been before and have to cope with the new rising economic environment. China is fast reaching its economic growth goals, this is likely to change the existing economic balance of the next decades, but China also has to align itself with the existing global policies on sustainability and to adapt its business to the new economic environment. This thesis provides a critical overview of the theoretical evolution of CSR and current international frameworks, it provides an explanation of the meaning of sustainability and sustainable development. It examines the drivers that lead to the development of CSR guidelines in China today, with a comparative analysis of the concept during the previous time. It contains case studies on Chinese firms that will give practical insight into how sustainability is pursued in China. The study aims to give an overall view of how CSR is applied and if it is a process to sustainability also in the Chinese market.