Smoothing the Silk Road through Successful Chinese Corporate Social Responsibility Practices: Evidence from East Africa

The diverse geographical areas involved in the Maritime Silk Road Initiative (MSRI) possess different economic, political and social systems that create major challenges for Chinese companies. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) offers one potential risk mitigation strategy to sustain the MSRI’s expansion, and relatedly Chinese investment, in places like Africa. As the research shows, though, CSR, as embraced by Chinese firms, has been specifically adapted to fit the Chinese context. Thus, they not only face obstacles in implementing CSR, but localizing Chinese CSR. Their success in surmounting such hurdles will impact the developmental outcomes of Chinese MSRI projects and subsequently African acceptance of these projects. This article concludes CSR remains an effective mechanism for empowering positive change and improving the livelihood and security of affected stakeholders.