Corporate Social Responsibility in SMES: Mapping Adoption Trajectories and Thematic Evolution through Bibliometric Analysis

This paper offers a thorough bibliometric study of the adoption of corporate social responsibility (CSR) by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Using a combined sample from the Scopus and Web of Science databases consisting of 1,156 articles, the article examines the development of the field based on intellectual, geographical, and thematic perspectives. The findings indicate that CSR has progressed from normative and philanthropic constructs towards strategic and performance-oriented ones, which emphasize sustainability. The analysis also identifies two primary research trajectories in CSR related to SMEs: (1) incorporation of CSR within the firm’s strategy and (2) the CSR–performance relationship, both of which demonstrate theoretical maturity. The thematic structure highlights the presence of a stable CSR sustainability core, a mature performance-oriented stream, and an emerging cluster dedicated to decision making and contextual factors. We contribute to the literature by highlighting these underlying tensions that influence the theoretical evolution and splintering of research. Methodologically, this study demonstrates the benefits of bibliometric mapping in providing an accessible, large scale, and transparent evidence synthesis for consumers of research, while acknowledging the inherent limitations of language bias, publication lag in citations, and data normalization. Overall, the findings provide a basis for future multimethod research that explores how SMEs institutionalize responsible and sustainable practices, using data to drive the research.