Dimensions of Corporate Social Responsibility inRural Cooperatives

Abstract

In recent decades, unsustainable human activities have had devastating and irreversible effects on environmental, social, and even economic sustainability; thereby leaving countries and governments with many problems, including migration, marginalization, increasing poverty, and class disparities. It has been argued that integrating Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) into corporate structures and economic activities (includingrural cooperatives) can make outstanding contributions to recovering from past shortcomings and neglect of the natural environment. This requires identifying factors affecting CSR activitiesin rural cooperation. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to increase CSR‐related activities among the stakeholders of rural cooperatives at Kamyaran township (N=14100). A researcher‐made questionnaire was used to achieve the research purpose.The validity and reliability of the research instrument were confirmed by an expert panel and Cronbach’s coefficient (α≥0.71). Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Findings showed apositive and significant relationship between supportive, monitoring and directional strategy (SMDS), regularity and mentaland structural ability (RMSA), and participatory mechanism (PM) with CSR level in rural cooperatives. Moreover, stepwise regression findings indicated that the identified factors accountedfor 36.4 percent of the variance in CSR. Finally, theoretical and practical implications of the research are presented.