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Chinese-Led Energy Projects in the Western Balkans: Where Do CSR and Human Rights Fit In?

GUBENKO, Stanislav

2025 • In Journal of East-West Business, p. 1-34

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https://hdl.handle.net/10993/65999

DOI
10.1080/10669868.2025.2569830

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Keywords :

Western Balkans; China; Business and Human Rights; CSR; Corporate Social Responsibility; Infrastructure development; Human Rights

Abstract :

[en] Despite China’s regulatory and policy efforts to enhance sustainability, Chinese constructors and financiers face criticism for alleged neglect of human rights and corporate social responsibility in Western Balkans infrastructure and industrial projects. This article investigates approaches to human rights and corporate social responsibility in three Chinese-led coal projects—Kostolac B3, Kolubara B, and Tuzla 7—in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Using discourse analysis and semi-structured interviews, it examines public narratives and insider perspectives. The findings highlight key patterns among Chinese actors and provide recommendations for addressing sustainability gaps in Chinese industrial and infrastructure projects in the region.

Disciplines :

Law, criminology & political science: Multidisciplinary, general & others

Author, co-author :

GUBENKO, Stanislav ; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance (FDEF) > Department of Law (DL)

External co-authors :

no

Language :

English

Title :

Chinese-Led Energy Projects in the Western Balkans: Where Do CSR and Human Rights Fit In?

Publication date :

09 October 2025

Journal title :

Journal of East-West Business

ISSN :

1066-9868

eISSN :

1528-6959

Publisher :

Informa UK Limited

Pages :

1-34

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Focus Area :

Sustainable Development

Additional URL :

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10669868.2025.2569830

Funders :

Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS) of the University of Luxembourg

Funding text :

This work was supported by the Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS) of the University ofLuxembourg. Opinions expressed and conclusions arrived at are those of the author(s) andare not necessarily to be attributed to the IAS.

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