Leadership and corporate social responsibility: a comprehensive review and bibliometric analysis (1980–2023)

Purpose The aim of the paper is to conduct a comprehensive review and bibliometric analysis of the relationship between leadership and corporate social responsibility (CSR). It seeks to investigate the impact of different leadership styles on CSR outcomes and organizational performance while exploring key themes such as transformational leadership, ethical leadership and responsible leadership, and their influence on CSR initiatives and stakeholder engagement. Design/methodology/approach The study examines a vast array of literature from 1980 to 2023 across various disciplines using the Scopus database. The analysis focuses on identifying the mediating role of organizational factors, such as ethical culture and intellectual capital, in the relationship between leadership styles and CSR outcomes. Findings The study highlights the significance of responsible leadership in promoting CSR practices and enhancing firm performance. It identifies the influence of transformational, ethical and responsible leadership styles on CSR initiatives and stakeholder engagement, emphasizing the importance of an ethical culture and intellectual capital as mediating factors. Originality/value This study provides a theoretical and practical implications of the intersection between leadership and CSR. By synthesizing an extensive literature and conducting a bibliometric analysis, it offers valuable insights and suggests directions for future research, thereby contributing to the understanding of how leadership styles impact CSR initiatives and organizational performance.