CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY CHALLENGES FOR MULTINATIONAL ENTERPRISES OPERATING IN EMERGING MARKETS
Anoosha Makka, Senior Lecturer, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Adèle Thomas, Professor of Management, University of Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract
Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) operating in both developed and developing economies have a global influence on business activities and form an important component of business operations in both home and host countries.  Increasingly, MNEs are confronted with corporate social responsibility challenges, specific to the host countries within which they currently operate or wish to operate.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is “the commitment of business to contribute to sustainable economic development, working with employees, their families and the local communities” (World Business Council for Sustainable Development 2001, 6). Belal (2001, 274) notes that the majority of CSR studies have focused on developed countries. However, the CSR challenges in the business environments that MNEs encounter when they operate in developed countries differ vastly to those encountered when operating in developing countries (Bird & Smucker 2007, 2).  Further research in emerging economies is required to provide strategic insights into to the focus of the CSR effort. The present theoretical paper aims, through a literature review, to highlight some key CSR challenges for MNEs when operating in developing countries.  This paper culminates in three propositions that form the basis for the later empirical study.
Keywords: South Africa, corporate social responsibility, foreign direct investment, MNE, development