With the beginning of the 21st century and the dawn of the third millennium, globalization, the information and technology revolution, free trade, and economic progress have all had a clear impact on the features of the entire world. This is compounded by a global population explosion, rising urbanization, declining natural resource levels, increasing energy consumption, ongoing conflicts and wars, rising poverty, a shrinking middle class, a widening gap between developed and developing nations, and escalating warnings of potential natural dangers like global warming, desertification, melting polar ice caps, earthquakes, and volcanoes, as well as the continued devastation of deadly diseases like AIDS and malaria. This is in addition to financial crises, whether regional or global, the latest of which was the global financial crisis of 2008-2009.

Recent events in the Arab world undoubtedly confirm that global changes cast their shadow on developing countries, especially concerning communication technology and the cultural and political conflict between developing and developed societies. All these variables and developments, both internally and externally, demand the concerted efforts of the government sector, private enterprises, and civil society institutions to achieve sustainable and balanced development that ensures a better life for future generations and mitigates the consequences of the major challenges facing society as much as possible.

The world's international and regional organizations, both governmental and private, along with civil society organizations, have agreed on the necessity of achieving sustainable development built on collaborative efforts. The goal is to save the environment and humanity from the dangers of nature and irresponsible human behavior.

The concept of sustainable development has been reinforced in international and local forums since its inception at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm in 1972. With its emergence came the idea of the private sector's responsibility towards society and the environment, and the importance of its participation in national development efforts, particularly as the sector grows under the dominance of free-market philosophy and privatization trends worldwide.

The prevailing belief is that the private sector must contribute to driving sustainable development by adopting social responsibility, offering services that extend beyond profit maximization to include environmental preservation and improving the quality of human life. However, this requires business organizations to operate within a framework of government legislation and policies; they do not act in isolation but within the bounds of public law, especially concerning public services and projects aimed at meeting societal needs. Therefore, a partnership between the public and private sectors is essential for these organizations to fulfill their social responsibility correctly, serving the goals of sustainable development and the public good.

This book explores the relationship between corporate social responsibility and sustainable development, and the role of governments in this relationship through a crucial partnership between the public and private sectors.

• Weight: 0.55 kg
• Dimensions: 17 × 24 cm
• ISBN: 978-9957-12-621-6