Applied-Fundamental Research (AFR) Workshop

Broadening the Scope of CSR Research in Europe: Building Bridges between Fundamental and Applied Business Disciplines on the Role of Business in Society

Professor Edward Freeman, Key Note

The role of business in society is a complex and multifaceted issue. Therefore, academic research on corporate social responsibility (CSR) requires an integrated approach in understanding these complex realities. Nevertheless, CSR research to date has largely failed to draw from and be integrated into the applied business disciplines (including strategy, organisational behaviour, marketing, finance and accounting, business ethics etc) or fundamental scholarly disciplines (including political science, economics, sociology, geography etc). Neither has there been much in the way of cross-fertilisation or linkages between them.

This workshop aims to explore some of the barriers and opportunities for broadening the scope of CSR research in discussion with leading scholars specialising in these areas, as well as those from applied business disciplines and fundamental disciplines from Europe and around the world.