International Business Revised

ETHICS IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS Part 2

READINGS

  • Reading 52 (optional online): D. Arnold and N. Bowie, "Sweatshops and Respect for Persons," from Business Ethics, Module 5.

  • Reading 53 (online): "How Bribery and Other Types of Corruption Threaten the Global Marketplace," from Knowledge @ Warton, U. of Pennsylvania. Available at: link

SUB-TOPICS

  • Moral Universalism versus Cultural Relativism in International Business

  • Bribery and Corruption in International Business

  • Exporting Pollution/Garbage to Other Countries

  • The Ethics of International Sweatshops

IS MORALITY RELATIVE OR UNIVERSAL?

The Issue of Relativism

  • Globalization necessitates engaging with diverse societies and cultures. This raises the question of moral standards in international business when morality may differ from one society to another, leading to fundamental dilemmas about morality itself and subsequent practical challenges.

Which View of Morality is Correct?

  • Moral Universalism: Asserts that moral principles are consistent across different societies and times.

  • Moral Relativism: Argues that morality can change depending on cultural, societal, or individual contexts.

UNIVERSALISM

  • The moral theories such as utilitarianism, Kantian ethics, and Ross’s ethics represent forms of moral universalism, advocating that morally right actions are universally applicable and should maximize happiness, treating people as ends in themselves.

DIFFERENT FORMS OF RELATIVISM

  • Moral Subjectivism: Beliefs about morality vary from individual to individual.

  • Cultural Relativism (CR): Proposes that an act is right if it adheres to the moral codes of one's culture; it is the most widely accepted form of relativism.

HUMAN RIGHTS AND CULTURAL RELATIVISM

  • The concept of human rights assumes moral universalism, which posits that certain rights belong to every individual simply by being human, creating tensions with cultural relativism.

The UDHR

  • The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) asserts globally recognized fundamental rights, provoking criticism for potentially enforcing Western ideologies upon diverse cultures.

WHY CULTURAL RELATIVISM MAY NOT BE OBVIOUSLY CORRECT

  • While apparent differences in moral practices exist across cultures (e.g., Aztecs' human sacrifices), it doesn’t necessarily imply the universality of those practices. Historical variations in morality also illustrate this.

AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION

  • A distinction must be drawn between belief in morality and morality itself; societal moral beliefs may not reflect objective moral truths.

DOES MORALITY CHANGE OVER TIME?

  • The historical evolution of moral beliefs (e.g., views on slavery) suggests a need to separate societal beliefs from an absolute moral standard.

THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN DESCRIPTIVE AND NORMATIVE RELATIVISM

  • Descriptive relativism acknowledges differences in moral beliefs across cultures, while normative relativism suggests that these differences equate to different moral truths, a claim that is disputed.

SOCIETY AS A SOURCE OF MORALITY

  • Cultural relativism implies that morality is defined by societal norms. However, critiques argue that morality should exist independently of societal acceptance, paralleling mathematical truths.

COSMOPOLITANISM

What is Cosmopolitanism?

  • Cosmopolitanism entails the recognition of global citizenship, valuing the interconnectedness of human beings regardless of national boundaries, promoting both an appreciation for cultural diversity and the objective of human rights.

CULTURAL RELATIVISM AND TOLERANCE

Does CR Justify Tolerance?

  • Cultural relativism posits that moral adherence is defined by cultural codes, potentially leading to intolerant practices if cultural norms are not inclusive.

Contradictory Nature of CR

  • As a moral principle, the advocacy for tolerance conflicts with CR’s stance that moral principles do not have universal validity.

LIMITS TO TOLERANCE

  • Although cultural tolerance is essential, it should not extend to practices that inflict harm or discrimination; this comprises a moral guidance in the realm of human rights.

EXPORTING POLLUTION TO OTHER COUNTRIES

The Ethical Dilemma of Waste Exporting

  • Wealthier nations often export hazardous waste to developing countries with less stringent environmental laws, raising questions around ethical treatment and the long-term effects on these countries.

BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION

Background and Context

  • Corruption manifests in various forms worldwide. It complicates business operations, depicting a challenge to ethical practices in an international context.

Addressing Corruption

  • Strategies such as adopting strict anti-bribery regulations in business dealings are essential for maintaining ethical integrity. Western businesses face significant moral implications regarding involvement in corrupt practices.