Guest editorial

Citation

Aluchna, M. (2009), "Guest editorial", Social Responsibility Journal, Vol. 5 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/srj.2009.36805aaa.001

Guest editorial

Article Type: Guest editorial From: Social Responsibility Journal, Volume 5, Issue 1

This is the special issue of Social Responsibility Journal focusing on developing and transition countries. The articles presented in this issue relate to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate governance both in transition and developing economies stressing the importance of institutional framework as well as the social involvement and awareness in analyzed regions. The issue offers a wide range of topics presenting aspects of current challenges of both topic of CSR and corporate governance. I truly recommend all the articles published in the special issue. The articles are grouped in two sections – the first one referring to the status and development of CSR and the second, relating to corporate governance. In the first group we have the article prepared by three authors Krista Jaakson, Maaja Vadi and Katrin Tamm entitled “Organizational culture and CSR: an exploratory study of Estonian service organizations” which improves our understanding of the connection of CSR and culture using the Estonia experience. The unequal battle against poverty is discussed in the article “CSR as a tool to fight against poverty: the case of Mauritius” submitted by Nicolas J.F. Ragodoo. The development of CSR concept in based on the experience of developing country is analyzed by Sudhir Chandra Das in his paper called “Status and direction of corporate social responsibility in Indian perspective: an exploratory study”. Another analysis of CSR development, this time from post-socialist transition economy is presented by Izabela Koładkiewicz in the article entitled “Corporate social responsibility in Poland: the Responsible Business Forum 2002-2007 report perspective” as well as by the paper “Building a model of corporate social responsibility in the old industrial region (in the case of Upper Silesia): a sociological perspective” co-authored by Marek S. Szczepanski, Robert Geisler and Anna Sliz.

The corporate governance section starts with the article submitted by Hakeem Ishola Mobolaji and Kamil Omoteso focusing on “Corruption and economic growth in some selected transitional economies” which refer to the most problematic challenge of transition and developing countries which in many cases may limit or slow down the developing process. The aspects of corporate transparency and disclosure and its importance for the corporate governance development are discussed in the paper “Contribution on the analysis of the environmental disclosure: a comparative study of American and European multinationals” written by Dammak Saida. The article entitled “Corporate governance and law-role of independent directors: theory and practice in India” written by Iti Bose discusses a worldwide important issue of independent directors and their role in corporate governance system based on the Indian experience. Historic perspective on corporate governance is presented by Kamal Ghosh Ray in his article called “The forgotten managing agency system: a nineteenth century model of Indian corporate governance”. Corporate governance recommendations as well as the practical results achieved by listed companies are discussed in the paper entitled “Implementation of best practice code: practical implications from the Warsaw Stock Exchange” written by Maria Aluchna.

As the Guest Editor of the special issue of SRJ I would like to thank Professor David Crowther for the opportunity of coordinating the editorial work and for the valuable hints considering the whole process. I would also like to thank all the authors who decided to submit their articles to the special issue. I would like to express my gratitude to all the reviewers who proved to be not only very helpful assisting the editorial process but also very disciplined and punctual in sending their reviews. Last, but not least, I would also thank all the members of socialresponsibity.biz network for support, motivation and good atmosphere that builds a perfect environment for further work and research.

Maria AluchnaMaria Aluchna is Assistant Professor, Department of Management Theory, Warsaw School of Economics, Warsaw, Poland.