The Role of Business in Fostering Peaceful Societies

This 2004 book looks at how business can foster responsible working practices and contribute to a peaceful society.

Timothy L. Fort (Author), Cindy A. Schipani (Author)

9781107402591, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 24 November 2011

246 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.4 cm, 0.37 kg

Originally published in 2004, this book offers a fresh approach to understanding responsible business practice. Global protests against multinational companies often give the misleading impression that the interests of multinationals and of peaceful societies are at odds. By contrast, Fort and Schipani contend, not only does business benefit from a peaceful environment but it can in fact effectively foster peace through adopting responsible and open working methods. Firms that promote economic development, that allow external evaluation of their affairs and that build a sense of community both within the company and in their local areas make a great contribution to building a more harmonious culture. Relevant for academics and practitioners, the book shows how companies can encourage collaborative working across borders, discourage corruption and create citizenship and problem-solving practices which tend to reduce violence and increase social harmony.

Introduction
Part I. The Plausibility of Connecting Business and Peace: 1. The role of business in fostering sustainable peace
2. Balances of power and mediators of justice
Part II. Current Standards and their Amenability to Peace: 3. Corporate governance and sustainable peace
4. Ethical business behavior and sustainable peace
Part III. Two Illustrative Issues: Gender and Ecology: 5. Gender, voice and correlations with peace
6. The ecological challenges of war: the natural environment and disease
Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Business ethics & social responsibility [KJG], Business & management [KJ], Sociology & anthropology [JH]