STANFORD
UNIVERSITY PRESS
  



The Diplomat in the Corner Office
Corporate Foreign Policy
Timothy L. Fort

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Contents and Abstracts
1 Corporate Foreign Policy
chapter abstract

In a global business environment, companies increasingly establish their own identity apart from their country of historical origin. This chapter details examples of the choices companies have made and argues that companies should consciously adopt their own foreign policy, which is benefitted from peace building. The chapter describes the ways in which companies can do this in an introductory fashion.

2 Causes of War and Lessons for Balances of Power
chapter abstract

This chapter sets out the research to date from the field of international relations that categorizes the reasons war begin. It will be noted that often, violence erupts because of an imbalance of power. The chapter argues that businesses are both subject to balance of power and contribute to them and thus can have a role in the balance of power equation that could contribute to peace.

3 Could Peace Break Out in this Day and Age?
chapter abstract

Studies of deep history seem to be in dispute as to whether humans are more or less peaceful today than in the past. This chapter takes these conflicting arguments from leading scholars and shows that, despite their differences, what unites them is a role that business can play in "gentle commerce." An ethically-informed set of business practices indeed seem to take advantage of all worlds in making the world more peaceful.

4
chapter abstract

An ethically-informed set of business practices also seems to find increasing acceptance within mainstream economic literature which recognizes the importance of trust. Ethical practices helpfully prevent more egregious behavior, which benefits commerce as a whole and the same practices also promote peace building. This chapter thus details major economic thought as to why and how this is possible and connects this literature to peace building

5 Peacemaking, Peacekeeping, and Peace building
chapter abstract

Businesses contribute to peace in different ways. Some promote peacemaking and peacekeeping. Others focus on a more diffused sense of peace building. This chapter provides case studies that demonstrate these different way sin which business contributes to peace.

6 Peace Entrepreneurs, Instrumental Corporate Foreign Policy, and Unconscious Peace Building
chapter abstract

Depending on a businessperson's conscious orientation, businesses might also contribute to peace intentionally (as peace entrepreneurs) as instrumentally a smart business strategy (corporate foreign policy) and completely unconsciously (through ethical practices shorn of peace building intention). This chapter recognizes these different approaches in hopes of providing more refined academic categories of analysis.

7 Little Brother Government Policy
chapter abstract

Rather than focusing directly on government regulation of business, this chapter suggests that a better role for government is to create incentives for business to engage in ethical and peace building activity. Thus, it follows a model of the U.S. Federal Sentencing Guidelines which flexibly allows companies to achieve ethical practices without mandating particular ones. This is a strategy of an open society versus a closed one, which itself provides greater likelihood for peace building.

7 Little Brother Government Policy
chapter abstract

Rather than focusing directly on government regulation of business, this chapter suggests that a better role for government is to create incentives for business to engage in ethical and peace building activity. Thus, it follows a model of the U.S. Federal Sentencing Guidelines which flexibly allows companies to achieve ethical practices without mandating particular ones. This is a strategy of an open society versus a closed one, which itself provides greater likelihood for peace building.

8 A New Great Awakening
chapter abstract

Civil society can contribute to businesses' contribution by creating an environment conducive to business's role. Thus, those organizations that specifically devote themselves to peace can partner with businesses. Business associations – such as the chamber of commerce can likewise encourage the activity that leads to constructive business contributions.

9 Why a Peace-Oriented Corporate Foreign Policy is Smart Business
chapter abstract

This final chapter summarizes why it is smart business for companies to contribute to peace building through their daily work.