Governance of Business Responsibility in Areas of Limited Statehood

This chapter analyzes business-society relations within areas of limited statehood (ALS), offering critical insights into governance in the global South. It examines the influence of non-state actors, particularly businesses and their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, in shaping governance, challenging conventional Eurocentric views of statehood and collective goods provision. Emphasizing the diversity of actors in ALS, this chapter highlights the complex dynamics of stakeholder interactions within challenging economic and political conditions. It also discusses the effectiveness of CSR in ALS contexts, exposing misalignments between global social norms and local expectations that can undermine corporate legitimacy. By employing the ALS framework, this chapter provides an alternative perspective on business-society relations, questioning the applicability of dominant CSR theories rooted in Anglo-Saxon contexts. It advocates for extending the ALS framework across regions and policy domains, promoting a globally inclusive approach to understanding these relations. This chapter contributes to the ongoing discourse on the role of business in society, particularly in contexts where traditional state functions are limited or absent.