Between Political Legitimacy and Strategic Competitiveness

This podcast presents research findings of the China Horizons’ project on the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices of Chinese international contractors (CICs).

Combining a quantitative and a qualitative approach grounded on fieldwork in Algeria and Serbia, Lin Yue (UAM) explains how Chinese companies are developing complex CSR strategies to navigate international pressures, secure competitiveness, and contribute to China’s broader diplomatic aims. Doing so, CICs need to reconcile domestic and international pressures. These companies need to align with Chinese government directives, which can sometimes contradict their short-term economic goals, leading to symbolic compliance. Externally, they need to adhere to international CSR standards, which demand long-term sustainability and social welfare. This dual expectation can lead to inconsistencies, especially when companies face different stakeholder demands in host countries.

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