<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>This study aims to investigate the historical evolution of the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR), with a particular focus on the main theories and events that led it to no longer be a voluntary choice but a necessity for the company’s long-term survival. The article will first analyze the main definitions in the literature to determine the aspects that characterize it. Subsequently, using a theoretical approach, a literature review will be performed to describe its historical evolution, starting from its birth during the Industrial Revolution period (1760-1840) up to the present day. The analysis results show that, in the scientific debate, the CSR concept was initially focused on the workers’ well-being and, subsequently, it expanded its scope and significance to include all stakeholders’ categories. Furthermore, it emerged that CSR become a necessity for the companies’ long-term survival, especially in the post-pandemic period. For this reason, companies must develop new business models to face sustainability issues and meet social needs.</p>
</abstract>

This study aims to investigate the historical evolution of the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR), with a particular focus on the main theories and events that led it to no longer be a voluntary choice but a necessity for the company’s long-term survival. The article will first analyze the main definitions in the literature to determine the aspects that characterize it. Subsequently, using a theoretical approach, a literature review will be performed to describe its historical evolution, starting from its birth during the Industrial Revolution period (1760-1840) up to the present day. The analysis results show that, in the scientific debate, the CSR concept was initially focused on the workers’ well-being and, subsequently, it expanded its scope and significance to include all stakeholders’ categories. Furthermore, it emerged that CSR become a necessity for the companies’ long-term survival, especially in the post-pandemic period. For this reason, companies must develop new business models to face sustainability issues and meet social needs.

The freedom to be sustainable, from the past to the future

People’s Friendship University of Russia

Geopolitical, Social Security and Freedom Journal

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"The freedom to be sustainable, from the past to the future"}

This study aims to investigate the historical evolution of the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR), with a particular focus on the main theories...

The freedom to be sustainable, from the past to the future

Publié en ligne: 19 mai 2022

Pages: 59 - 79

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/gssfj-2021-0012

Mots clés
corporate social responsibility, CSR, definition, historical evolution, literature review

© 2021 Matteo Ferioli et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The freedom to be sustainable, from the past to the future

Publié en ligne: 19 mai 2022

Pages: 59 - 79

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/gssfj-2021-0012

Mots cléscorporate social responsibility, CSR, definition, historical evolution, literature review

© 2021 Matteo Ferioli et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Mots clés
corporate social responsibility, CSR, definition, historical evolution, literature review