Join us for a talk with Nicole Janz, PhD candidate, Department of Politics and International Relations, hosted by the CGHR research group, on the Human Rights obligations of Multinational Corporations in weak states. Business engagement of multinational companies [MNCs] in developing countries is often seen highly critical: media constantly report corporate human rights abuses in the oil, footwear or clothing industries. Corporate social responsibility [CSR] guidelines are often portrayed as pure image strategies exploiting weak regulation. However, this paper argues that in developing countries where governments have few capacities to carry out essential state functions, the engagement of multinational corporations could make a positive difference regarding human rights standards. Through their corporate social responsibility strategies MNCs have potential to step in and become ‘human rights duty bearers’ when states are not capable. Evidence from the analysis shows that four main external factors influence CSR of multinational companies: (1) law enforcement, (2) NGO pressure, (3) competition and (4) industry/business sector. The paper brings together scattered empirical work to substantiate theoretical assumptions on CSR and therefore contributes to a clearer view of CSR in developing countries.