Cultural conflicts and corporate responsibility in the international marketplace

Corporate Social Responsibility became a major issue in the 1970s as social upheaval throughout the world focused on companies and the effects on people and the environment of the businesses in which they were involved. While the impact was felt most in developed nations, developing nations awakened to problems that corporate policies and actions created. Responsive companies attempting to be socially responsible found that created difficulties with investors and governments. Downturns in the economic conditions made matters worse. The conflict broadened to involve cultural differences such as issues like child labour, the role of women in the workplace, payment for contractual considerations. Cultural issues continue to create tension in the arena of corporate responsibilit and put pressure on the role of public relations practitioners. The consequences of being seen as unresponsive to social issues often results in highly unfavourable publicity with financial impact in the world marketplace.