In many Asian societies, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is generally understood as being no more than corporate-run community development projects to compensate for social and economic injustices. Most of such projects, like constructing schools and health care centres, have been effectively hegemonic, providing strong legitimacy and extensive license to corporations to sustain the exploitation of the human and natural resources in many countries. A further implication of CSR is that it makes people think that it is the company’s obligation to meet people’s rights to a better education system, clean water, health care, etc., instead of the State or government. At the same time, this has allowed the State to escape from its obligations towards society.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit will be held on November 10-11 in Maldives. Like ASEAN, SAARC is a regional organization that seeks to promote economic, technological, social and cultural development through cooperation and integration efforts. Its member countries include the South Asian countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan. The Republic of Maldives declared “Building Bridges” – both in terms of physical connectivity and figurative political dialogue – as the theme for the 17th SAARC Summit this year.