POLT 4100: Advanced Studies in International Politics:
Human Rights and Business
Webster University-Thailand
Fall II, 2007
Professor Allan MacNeill
macneiam@webster.edu
Course Description: To what extent do the forces of globalization, free trade and foreign investment promote social progress, human rights and democracy? What responsibilities do businesses have in reconciling these goals with making profits? Who should determine and enforce international standards for corporations? These questions are central to current debates over globalization and the role of businesses in international political economy. When one considers that private foreign investment is roughly ten times larger than government foreign aid it becomes clear that corporations have a huge and growing impact in the world. This course will examine the rapidly emerging literature on these questions from academics, businesses, governments, non-governmental organizations, and human rights activists.
Course Objectives: By the end of the course students will be able to critically evaluate:
1. The efficacy of applying human rights standards to corporations.
2. The effect of corporate practices on human rights.
3. The effects of international trade and globalization on human rights.
4. Different policies and enforcement mechanisms aimed at reconciling corporate behavior with the promotion of human rights
Readings:
All readings are available through the library’s electronic reserves or via hyperlink.
Course Requirements:
1. Corporation Report (20%): Each student will write a 10
pg. paper on the human rights record of a selected multinational corporation.
2. Debates (20%): Students will participate in one debate during the term.
3. Midterm Exam (25%)
4. Final Exam (25%)
4. Attendance, class participation (10%)
Helpful links
Business and Human Rights
Resource Center
University of
Minnesota Business and Human Rights Links
Human Rights Watch: Corporations
CorpWatch.org
corporate research guide
Corporate Accountability Project
Multinational Monitor
Worker Rights Consortium
Sweatshop Watch
National Labor Committee
Global Exchange
Investor Responsibility
Research Center
Academic Dishonesty: It is the policy of the instructor that any
student caught cheating or committing plagiaism will receive a failing grade
for the course and may be subject to further disciplinary action.
Citation
guide for writing papers
Course Outline:
Week 1: Introduction to Human Rights and Business
David Forsythe, "Transnational Corporations and Human Rights." Human
Rights and International Relations.
Susan Ariel Aronson, "Courting International Business: What are the
Human Rights Obligations of Global Capitalism" The
International Economy. Spring 2003. vol. 17, no. 2. 63-64.
Geoffrey
Chandler, “The Evolution of
the Business and Human Rights Debate.” Rory Sullivan, ed. Business and Human Right: Dilemmas and
Solutions.
The
UN Global Compact: The
Ten Principles
Week 2: What is a Corporation? Do Corporations Have Rights? Do
Corporations Have Responsibilities?
Milton Friedman, "The Social Responsibility of Business
Is to Increase Its Profits" in Thomas R. Swartz and Frank J. Bonello,
eds. Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Economic Issues. 10th
ed. McGraw-Hill. 2002
Alexei M. Marcoux, "Business
Ethics Gone Wrong." Cato Policy Report
William M. Evan, R. Edward Freeman, "Stakeholder
Theory of the Modern Corporation: Kantian Capitalism"
DEBATE TOPIC: "The Only Responsibility of Corporations is to
Increase Its Profits" (note: this debate will take place the first part of
class on Week 3)
Week 3: Multinational Corporations and Human Rights
Deborah Spar, "Foreign Investment
and Human Rights." Challenge. Jan-Feb. 1999. vol. 42
Peter Muchlinski, “The Devlopement of Human Rights
Responsibilities for Multinational Enterprises.” in Sullivan
William Grieder, "Wawasan 2000" One World,
Ready or Not: The Manic Logic of Global Capitalism. Simon & Schuster.
1997.
David Korten, "Dreaming of Global
Empires" When Corporations Rule the World. Kumarian
Press. 1995
DEBATE TOPIC: "Multinational corporations' foreign investment enhances
human rights in the host countries"
Week 4: Trade and Human Rights
George DeMartino, "The Trade Debate." Global
Economy, Global Justice. Routledge. 2000.
David Kinley and Adam McBeth,
“Human Rights, Trade and
Multinational Corporations.” in Sullivan.
Michael A. Santoro, "Comprehensive Engagement
Plus: Human Rights and Foreign Policy" Profits and Principles:
Global Capitalism and Human Rights in
John Dorn "Trade
and Human Rights: The Case of China" Cato Journal. Vo. 16. No. 1 1998.
David Korten, "Guaranteeing
Corporate Rights." When Corporations Rule the World.
MIDTERM EXAM
DEBATE TOPIC: "
Week 5: Globalization and Human Rights
Kelly-Kate Pease, "Economic Globalization and American
Society," in David Forsyth, ed. The
Indur M. Goklany, "The
Globalization of Human Well-Being" Policy Analysis. August 22,
2002. No. 47
Paul Krugman, "Hearts and
Heads" New York Times. April 22, 2001
Michael A. Santoro, "The Two Faces
of Globalization: How the Strategic Imperatives of Global Capitalism Unleash
both Positive and Negative Forces" in Profits and Principles.
William Grieder, "The New against
the Old" in One World, Ready or Not.
David Korten, "Race to the
Bottom" When Corporations Rule the World.
Week 6: Labor Rights, Sweatshops and International Labor Standards
Karl Shoenberger, "Slaves to Fashion." Levi's
Children: Coming to Terms with Human Rights in the Global Marketplace.
Atlantic Monthly Press. 2000
Jedrzej George Frynas, “The Transnational Garment
Industry in South and South-East Asia: A Focus on Labor Rights.” in
Frynas and Pegg.
Paul Krugman, "In Praise of Cheap Labor" New
York Times.
Nicholas Kristoff and Sheryl WuDunn, "Two
Cheers for Sweatshops" in Swartz and Bonello, Taking Sides.
Andrew Ross, "Introduction"
No Sweat: Fashion, Free Trade and the Rights of Garment Workers. Verso.
1999
Kaushik Basu, "International Labor
Standards and Child Labor" Challenge. Sept.-Oct. 1999, vol. 42
DEBATE TOPIC: "International Labor Standards that seek to eliminate low-wage
employment ("sweatshops") hurt developing countries."
Week 7: Strategies and Policies: Voluntary Business Codes, Regulations and the
Role of Consumers
Thomas Donaldson, "The Promise of Corporate Codes of
Conduct" Human Rights Dialogue. Fall, 2000. Carnegie Council on
Ethics and International Affairs.
Trinh Duong, "Codes of Conduct
Don't Work: A View from the Factory Floor" Human Rights Dialogue. Fall,
200. Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs.
Alex Wawryk, “Regulating Transnational
Corporations through Corporate Codes of Conduct.” in Frynas, George
Jedrzej and Pegg, Scott eds. Transnational
Corporations and Human Rights.
George DeMartino, "Global Economic
Policies for the Year 2050" Global Economy, Global Justice.
Routledge. 2000.
Susan Ariel Aaronson, "Oh,
Behave!" The International Economy. March/April 2001.
DEBATE TOPIC: "Voluntary Business Codes are sufficient to ensure
businesses promote human rights. International regulations are
unnecessary."
Week 8: Research Papers Due. Presentation of Findings