Canadian-Colombian interaction towards building CSR institutional capacity : how to reach a bottom-line for ethical corporate performance in the global mining industry?

This research paper seeks to contribute to the debate on whether a bottom-line to CSR exists in the global mining industry. The research approach focuses on the institutional differences and constraints to meet CSR international guidelines in both developed and developing countries. In doing so, the work of key actors within both the Colombian and Canadian regimes was researched and compared to draw attention to possible spill-over effects through different forms of interaction among the two regimes. The different interaction channels involving Canadian mining companies operating in Colombia, civil society’s activism at each end, trade agreements and regimes’ commitment to CSR guidelines at the national and international levels. Relevance to Development Studies This research raises questions over the potential role of Corporate Social Responsibility in the mining sector for countries such as Colombia, which have adopted similar extraction–led pathways within their national policy. Therefore, this paper shall shed light to countries’ institutional capacity in setting “bottom lines” on CSR standards in developed and developing countries. This paper will seek to identify incentive structures for Canadian mining companies in Colombia to go beyond merely compensating for their adverse social, environmental and economic effect, but instead, partaking social responsibility in strengthening national sustainable development road maps for extractive sectors, and with it, enhancing national economic developmental potential.