Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives: Issue-Specific in the Context of Lithuania

Abstract

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is still an evolving paradigm in many new European Union (EU) member states. This is the case despite these states’ half-of-a-century experience of Soviet planned economy, different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds of these new EU community member states, they have often propose respective cases for discussion of newly developing businesses and CSR. Soviet business in Lithuania was perceived as a phenomenon, which seemed inconsistent with the political and economic system, but was certainly characterized by business terms from the free world. The originators of capitalism of the planned economy, based on prior Lithuanian traditions and concepts, supported by them and shaped by the environment, had brought many imperfections in the early post-Soviet economic development processes, sometimes without realizing it in line with some shortcomings as well as some benefits. This research aims to elucidate specific key issues in the context of Lithuania, which has historically formed basic fundamentals of the very first CSR initiatives even before the “top-bottom” pressure from the EU. On the other hand, there is a proposed discussion on the input made by international organizations, such as the EU and UNDP, which firstly occurred on institutional agenda and afterwards was followed by a number of CSR initiatives, implemented in collaboration with the government, business and NGOs. The final discussion and conclusion emphasize the crucial importance of the continuity of key CSR initiatives in Lithuania and gives several insights into future CSR development.