Description
Book SynopsisAfter the Tiananmen Square massacre, a vigorous international debate erupted, not only about human rights in China, but also about the role of multinational firms. Should corporations do business in China at all? Should corporations take a stand on...
Trade ReviewSantoro proposes a framework for understanding the extent and limits of corporate moral responsibility for human rights, focusing primarily on the case of U.S. business in China.... He constructs a fair-share theory of moral responsibility for human rights and applies the fair-share theory of human rights to the sweatshop problem and to the issue of corporate responsibility for government repression of political and religious dissidents.
* Journal of Economic Literature *
Santoro has made a first effort to address an intractable and increasingly salient cause of human rights violations in developing countries, including China—inhumane business practices—and on this account alone his work is to be appreciated.
-- Peter Harris * The China Journal *
This book merits much credit for its even-handed, comprehensive approach. Santoro's theoretical investigation is matched and buttressed by his empirical analysis. While an urgent moral call, the book also considers what is and is not a realistic appeal. Finally, while focusing on MNCs, the author also delineates the larger moral web that connects all of human society—CEOs, workers, and consumers alike.
-- Donna E. Chung * Journal of East Asian Studies *
The book's common-sense, pragmatic tone serves well to open up a complex and important topic for several communities of readers—policy makers, business people, and the nongovenrmental organization community. Even if few settle for his conclusions, he will have helped by setting out some terms for future debate.
-- Andrew J. Nathan * Political Science Quarterly *
Lines have been drawn in the sand, with choices reduced to stark either-ors: human rights or expanded commerce, worker protection or globalization. But to anyone looking for reasoned discussion instead of rhetorical posturing, Santoro's book is a fine place to start. His solidly grounded analysis deserves a wide audience.
-- Barry Gewen * New York Times Book Review *
This timely study, which combines rigorous economic analysis with sharp moral reasoning, spells out what can and cannot be expected.... As sensitive to the bottom line as he is to human rights, Santoro also has useful things to say about the issues that vex CEOs dealing with China.... He has produced a book of interest not just to the concerned citizen but also to those engaged in business in China or contemplating becoming involved there.
-- Lucien W. Pye * Foreign Affairs *
What are the moral obligations of corporate executives with regard to human rights? Assuming that one can settle on a definition of human rights and agree that such obligations exist, then how can such obligations be balanced against executives' responsibility to corporate shareholders to maximize profits? Santoro has produced a provocative work in business ethics that attempts to answer, or at least provide the basis for an answer, to these questions.... The issues Santoro covers are of increasing importance in global economic policy arrangement, and deserve attention.
* Choice *
