Divergence or Convergence? A Global Bibliometric Analysis of CSR Research Trends Between China and the West

Abstract

In contemporary business practice, corporate social responsibility (CSR) has emerged as a critical metric for assessing comprehensive corporate value. Leveraging bibliometric data from the CNKI and Web of Science core databases, this study employs CiteSpace 6.2 to conduct a knowledge mapping analysis, systematically tracing the evolutionary trajectory, research hotspots, and future directions of CSR studies between 2015 and 2024. The findings reveal a sustained upward trend in CSR research globally, with a notable acceleration in Chinese scholarship post-2022, publications tripled by 2023, while Western research exhibited gradual growth from 2020 onward. CSR scholarship demonstrates pronounced interdisciplinary diversity, spanning environmental governance, financial performance, corporate governance, and supply chain management. Despite shared thematic foundations, stark divergences exist in regional priorities: Chinese studies emphasize context-specific agendas like “common prosperity” and rural revitalization, whereas Western research prioritizes sustainability frameworks, bibliometric methodologies, and empirical validations. Emerging trends underscore the rising significance of corporate identity construction and the transformative potential of artificial intelligence and big data analytics in CSR practices. To advance the field, we advocate for deeper interdisciplinary integration, theoretical expansion, and strategic adoption of digital technologies to enhance corporate global competitiveness and contribute to sustainable development imperatives.