ABSTRACT

In recent years, corporate social responsibility (CSR)1 has become a widely-discussed issue in Thailand, although this debate about CSR and its practice in Thailand is relatively unexplored in international literature. In order to shed light on Thai perceptions and practice of CSR, this chapter, first, outlines the contextual background of CSR in Thailand in terms of the Thai economy as well as the social and environmental problems confronting Thailand as a consequence of rapid economic change over recent decades. Secondly, the chapter draws on primary commentary in newspapers and government reports to investigate the concept of CSR and how corporate social and environmental responsibility is perceived in Thailand. Finally, the chapter examines how these perceptions of CSR have been translated into practice in Thai companies, and explores whether CSR practices in Thailand tend to be determined by or orientate towards Thailand’s own social and environmental requirements.