Whether and When: Corporate Social Responsibility as a Nationally Embraced Concept in Slovenia

Abstract

This chapter examines the current state of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Slovenia. It argues that CSR is not yet a concept widely recognised and embraced among all relevant political and business actors or in civil society. The reasons can mostly be found in the social, economic and cultural roots where, according to the institutionalist approach, the informal institutions such as norms, values and past experiences are those that matter the most and have the power to dictate the rate of CSR diffusion in a particular society. An overview of CSR development in Slovenia nonetheless shows that some important steps towards a wider recognition of CSR in Slovenia have been made in the last few years. The strongest initiators of these changes are some non-governmental organisations that have been very active in promoting CSR, both in the business community and in Slovenian society.