8th Annual ICCSR Symposium：CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN CHINA 征文通知

As Chinese economic growth accelerates a key concern becomes how to make this growth sustainable as a contribution to a ‘harmonious society’.  For decades economic growth has been the foremost priority on the political agenda in China, but in a recent declaration China’s leaders have pronounced the building of a harmonious society as the official long-term goal in China and CSR is perceived as the private sector’s contribution to this goal (Wong, 2009).

Studies show Chinese firms are increasingly implementing CSR practices and CSR reporting (Ip, 2009; Kolk, Hong, & van Dolen, 2010; Welford, 2005; Wong, 2009). Important drivers are the fast integration of China into the global economic system and its prominent position as a manufacturing hub in global supply chains (Wang & Juslin, 2009).  

In parallel, domestic drivers for CSR are also becoming more evident.  The Chinese government has introduced new regulations aimed at strengthening corporate commitment to CSR, while growing industrial unrest amongst the migrant worker population employed in the manufacturing sector, related media attention and statements of high-level public officials condemning firms that mistreat their workers, have put pressure on organizations to pursue more socially responsible behaviour towards their employees.

Chinese firms are also making significant efforts to add value within global supply chains, aided by strong public support for R&D and innovation. Therefore CSR may become more instrumental, in order to attract and retain more skilled workers and through the development of collaborative relationships that can bring in knowledge and foster innovation.

We invite papers to explore various perspectives on the emergence of CSR in China, We especially invite papers that develop fresh theoretical perspectives, aim to apply recently developed conceptual frameworks or present empirical evidence in areas that are relatively underexplored in China.

Examples include:

·         CSR and Regulation;

·         The role of civil society in shaping CSR in China;

·         The relationship between philanthropy, corporate social responsibility and firm performance in China;

·         The relation between CSR, human resources management and organisational commitment in Chinese firms;

·         The emergence of socially responsible investment in China;

·         Social entrepreneurship, microfinance and CSR in China;

·         Corporate responses to climate change in Chinese firms,

·         Sustainability, CSR reporting and CSR standards in China

·         CSR practices in Chinese supplier firms

·         The nature of stakeholder engagement in CSR of firms in China and of Chinese firms expanding abroad

·         Comparative perspectives looking at CSR and sustainability strategies in different business groups or in different Asian countries and beyond.

We would welcome both theoretical to practice-oriented papers.

In addition to this general theme and tracks we invite papers for two specific tracks that will be organised in the conference.

Track 1: CSR from the Perspective of ASEAN States

The track is organized by ICCSR, Nottingham University Business School, UK (Dr Christian Herzig, Prof Jeremy Moon) and ICCSR, Nottingham University Business School, Malaysia (Dr Rebecca Chung-hee Kim)

Recent years have witnessed significant advances in CSR in ASEAN states.  There are also grounds for optimism about future growth in CSR through, for example, the development of the Blueprint for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (2009-2015) and the establishment of the ASEAN CSR Network in 2010. Our purpose is to better understand the emerging CSR issues and challenges in the ASEAN region and the distinct and varied approaches towards CSR that reflect the institutional, cultural and religious contexts of the ASEAN region.

Track 2: Environmental Management Accounting and Integrated Reporting

The Environmental Management Accounting Network - Asia Pacific (EMAN-AP) track is organised by the Centre for Accounting, Governance and Sustainability (CAGS), University of South Australia (Professor Roger Burritt) in collaboration with ICCSR

This track will deal with Environmental Management Accounting (EMA) as it relates to and supports an Integrated Reporting (IR) framework. The objectives of IR are to show the broader and longer-term consequences of decision-making and to reflect the interconnections between environmental, social, governance and financial factors in decisions that affect long-term performance and condition, making clear the link between sustainability and economic value. In this context the stream considers the emergence of linkages between EMA and integrated reporting and how to create complimentary opportunities.

The conference will take place over two days at the University of Nottingham, Ningbo Campus in China (UNNC) with keynotes and a practitioner oriented session on the first day and parallel sessions on the second day. The conference is connected to the civil society dialogue on CSR and climate change in China that will also take place from the 13^th to the 15^th of July at UNNC. There will be morning plenary sessions in the civil society dialogue on climate change and CSR in China which the participants of the CSR in China ICCSR symposium can also attend.

Authors interested in submitting a paper for presentation at the symposium should submit an abstract of 500 words to Dr. Peter Hofman (email: Peter.Hofman@nottingham.edu.cn) by Friday, 8^th April 2011.

Other key dates are:

Deadline for call for papers – 8th April

Notice of acceptance of abstract – 29th April 2011

Symposium registration opens – 2nd May 2011

Full paper submission – 31st May 2011

Final symposium programme released – 17th June 2011

Symposium registration closed – 1st July 2011

Symposium – 11/12th July 2011.

The ICCSR will also be preparing a special issue for a journal on Corporate Social Responsibility in China, to be edited by Prof. Jeremy Moon, Dr. Peter Hofman and other(s). Papers presented at the symposium would be considered along with those responding to the journal’s own call for papers. 

References

Ip P. K. (2009). The challenge of developing a business ethics in China. Journal of Business Ethics 88: 211–224.

Kolk, A., Hong, P., & van Dolen, W. (2010). Corporate social responsibility in China: An analysis of domestic and foreign retailers’ sustainability dimensions. Business Strategy and the Environment 19: 289-303.

Lin, L. W. (2010). Corporate social responsibility in China: Window dressing or structural change. Berkeley Journal of International Law 28(1): 64-100.

Wang, L., & Juslin, H. (2009). The impact of Chinese culture on corporate social responsibility: The harmony approach. Journal of Business Ethics 88: 433-451.

Welford, R. (2005). Corporate social responsibility in Europe, North America and Asia. Journal of Corporate Citizenship 17: 33-52.

Wong, L. (2009). Corporate social responsibility in China: Between the market and the search for a sustainable growth development. Asian Business and Management 8(2): 129-148.