TY - JOUR AB - Purpose– This paper aims to examine the origins and trajectory of the Brazilian corporate social responsibility (CSR) movement in relation to political economic developments in Brazil during and prior to the 2000s. Design/methodology/approach– This paper relies on a historical political account that traces the evolution of the main actors in the CSR movement since the democratization period, details the contacts established with relevant political and civil society groups and outlines the adaptation of their agenda to the changing context. Findings– The long association between a faction of Brazilian business and the Workers’ Party (PT) and the overlapping state – society relations characteristic of the Brazilian political economy explain the domestic and international standing of the Brazilian CSR movement, in particular since 2003 when Lula da Silva came to power. Originality/value– The trajectory of Brazilian CSR and participation in related global initiatives cannot be explained through market-based or isomorphic approaches traditionally used to analyze the diffusion of governance mechanisms in the Global South. Rather, it highlights the relevance of local political structures in shaping involvement in global governance initiatives. VL - 10 IS - 4 SN - 1742-2043 DO - 10.1108/cpoib-03-2014-0016 UR - https://doi.org/10.1108/cpoib-03-2014-0016 AU - Milcíades Peña Alejandro PY - 2014 Y1 - 2014/01/01 TI - The political trajectory of the Brazilian CSR movement T2 - critical perspectives on international business PB - Emerald Group Publishing Limited SP - 310 EP - 328 Y2 - 2024/04/25 ER -