Stakeholders interactions and corporate social responsibility in the mining industry

Corporate social responsibility and stakeholder theory are two areas that have gains terrain in attracting scholars’ attention in different fields. Thus, research studies in CSR have concluded that, despite the global perception about CSR, the concept is perceived and applied in different ways through different contexts. Consequently, CSR appears to have no boundaries and therefore, it becomes necessary to analyse some elements inherent to CSR according to specific contexts such as country level and industries to name a couple. The purpose of this thesis is to explore CSR from a stakeholder perspective, emphasising the relevance of stakeholders and their perceptions of CSR in the Chilean mining industry. While there is significant research on CSR, there is far less of an understanding about specific stakeholders within the extractive industry, particularly in a developing country like Chile. The main contributions are as follows. First, it attempts at to better understand multistakeholder perceptions of CSR in connexion with mining industry impacts. In this sense, findings suggest recognition of mining in the economic dimension but at the same time a rejection of mining activities, particularly due to a perceived trade-off mindset between benefits and overwhelming impacts in the environmental dimension. Secondly, the thesis has examined the mechanisms stakeholders employ in order to influence more responsible corporate behaviour. In regards to this, findings identify five mechanisms which vary across stakeholders, which in turn are influenced by the level of involvement as passive or active stakeholder in relation to those mechanisms. Finally, the research has explored how stakeholder groups perceive the salience of other stakeholders in relation to CSR and the impact of salience attributes on stakeholder interactions. Stakeholders in this regard, identify two groups; definitive (the most salient) and latent (low degree of salience) stakeholders and, the attribute of power as the main driver for interactions amongst stakeholders. Overall, the outcomes of this thesis contribute to better understand CSR from stakeholders’ eyes, which open opportunities for both, stakeholders and companies, in order to enhance and improve interactions and development in the mining sector.