When do stakeholders mobilize in response to corporate social irresponsibility? A systematic literature review

Abstract Irresponsible behavior of corporations is rampant, causing tremendous harm on a regional, national, and global scale. Sometimes stakeholders challenge such behavior, sometimes it remains unchallenged. A substantial body of research has emerged on the conditions that affect if and when stakeholders—such as investors, consumers, or local communities—mobilize against corporate social irresponsibility, yet this literature is fragmented, which hampers our understanding of the phenomenon. This paper systematically reviews 151 articles on stakeholder mobilization against corporate social irresponsibility to condense our understanding of the drivers and hindrances for stakeholder mobilization to occur. We develop a model that depicts when stakeholders are likely to mobilize against corporate social irresponsibility. Based on this model, we derive suggestions for future research, depicting what we still need to learn about the conditions that lead to stakeholders’ mobilization against corporate social irresponsibility.