A Discussion of Intercultural Relations as a Critical Component of Corporate Social Responsibility

Given the current state of unprecedented global interdependence, and the growing impact that business has on the world’s inhabitants, Corporate Social Responsibility has become something that is not only desirable, but also expected of corporations. The topic of this qualitative study is the conceptual and pragmatic links of Intercultural Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility. This research focused on an identified informational gap in social responsibility literature and investigated the possible impact of culture and intercultural competence on Corporate Social Responsibility work. The scope of this investigation was purposeful and selective; a well-rounded group of professional Corporate Social Responsibility practitioners contributed to the research. At the end of this research it was determined that in order for social responsibility efforts to be reciprocal, inclusive, and effective, it would be beneficial to consider Intercultural Relations and develop intercultural competence.