Navigating the Integration Gap: a Bibliometric Review of CSOs and CSR Committees in Sustainable Corporate Governance

Abstract

Sustainability has moved to the forefront of corporate and policy agendas, but research has primarily focused on disclosure and reporting rather than internal mechanics. This paper identifies a critical fragmentation in the literature on the structural and organisational integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance principles into corporate governance. Using a bibliometric approach, this study analyses the evolution of Sustainable Corporate Governance (SCG) research. We map the intellectual, social, and conceptual structures of the field using data from Scopus and Web of Science, specifically focusing on the intersection of high-level governance and organisational practice. Results show that SCG is an accelerating field, but it remains fragmented. Current literature largely treats sustainable practices as isolated governance feature rather than an integrated strategic or organisational driver. There is a lack of research on the dynamic processes required to embed sustainability across different organisational levels. This study moves beyond traditional literature reviews by synthesising the state of the art through a bibliometric lens, identifying significant research voids. It proposes a future research agenda aimed at helping scholars and practitioners overcome cultural and structural barriers to achieve effective sustainability integration into corporate governance.