What is it about?
This study explores how individuals in Kazakhstan perceive corporate social responsibility (CSR). Drawing on Carroll’s Pyramid of CSR and other foundational principles such as stewardship, charity, and environmental responsibility, it examines which aspects of CSR matter most to people and how these perceptions vary by age and experience. The research also assesses how socially responsible behavior can benefit companies and proposes an adapted CSR hierarchy for the Kazakhstani context.
Featured Image
Photo by Vincent Toesca on Unsplash
Why is it important?
CSR is a relatively new but growing concept in Kazakhstan, and understanding public perceptions is essential for its meaningful development. This study reveals that Kazakhstani citizens prioritize environmental care, legal compliance, and stakeholder fairness over profit-making and philanthropy. These findings reflect local expectations and cultural values. This study also provides a much-needed foundation for CSR research in Central Asia.
Perspectives
This research came from a genuine curiosity: how do people in Kazakhstan actually define corporate responsibility, beyond the formal definitions we see in textbooks? As I spoke with participants and analyzed their views, what struck me most was the disconnect between Western CSR frameworks and local expectations shaped by Soviet legacy, community values, and emerging economic realities. People weren’t asking for grand charity gestures — they wanted companies to respect laws, care for the environment, and treat employees fairly. I hope this study gives local businesses a reason to rethink CSR not as a PR tool, but as something rooted in accountability and everyday impact. And I’d love to see more dialogue between companies and communities about what responsibility really means in today’s Kazakhstan.
Dr. Yelena Smirnova
University of Barcelona
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Perceptions of corporate social responsibility in Kazakhstan, Social Responsibility Journal, July 2012, Emerald,
DOI: 10.1108/17471111211247974.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
