Cindy A. Schipani

The role of business in fostering peaceful societies

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.

The Role of the Corporation in Fostering Sustainable Peace

This Article demonstrates that there is a plausible, conceptual relationship among corporate governance, business ethics, and sustainable peace. First, the Authors begin by outlining the benefits of and protests against globalization and the reciprocal benefits between geopolitical entities and economic activity. The Article then details specific historical events that foreshadow patterns in the relationship between business and sustainable peace. In looking more closely at those patterns, the Authors argue that through economic progress and mitigation of rivalries in the workplace, multinational corporations can contribute to sustainable peace. Thus, if this argument is correct, the stakes increase dramatically for corporations to consider these issues in their governance practices and for governments to create legislative frameworks to encourage such responsible practices. The Authors propose that incorporating attributes of peaceful societies with current successful corporate governance regimes will help to achieve both economic progress and social harmony. The Article concludes that the future will offer increasingly precise corporate models that contribute to the reduction of bloodshed.

Legal Liability: The Board of Directors

As director liability problems increase, it becomes increasingly important for directors to understand their legal responsibilities.

The Role of Employee Voice in Promoting Corporate Social Responsibility in China

As the already vast Chinese economy continues to outpace much of the world, the importance of establishing and promoting cultures of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and active employee voice within businesses that operate in China is becoming essential; both for sustaining economic growth and promoting the wellbeing of Chinese workers. History shows that the costs of not maintaining a CSR culture can be substantial, on both an economic and social level. By setting forth the economic and social justifications in support of CSR, this chapter aims to motivate businesses to further grow their CSR culture. To this end, this chapter first introduces the topic of CSR and employee voice. It then describes the costs of lacking CSR and voice by examining examples of corporate failures where CSR could have been beneficial. This is followed by a discussion of the barriers to CSR and voice in China. Next, we address whistleblowing laws and practices in China, followed by our conclusions and a discussion of suggestions for stimulating CSR and employee voice culture.

Pathways to Success for Women Scientists in Higher Education in the US

A continuing problem regarding gender equity in higher education in the United States is attracting and retaining women in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields. For example, only 20% of the science and engineering faculty at four-year colleges and universities are women.1 Within certain disciplines such as mathematics and physics, the numbers are dramatically smaller.

The Role of Business in Fostering Peaceful Societies: The ecological challenges of war: the natural environment and disease

This book offers a novel 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.

The Role of Business in Fostering Peaceful Societies: Balances of power and mediators of justice

This book offers a novel 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.