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Business in Genocide – Understanding the how and why of corporate complicity in genocides

Author

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  • Nora Stel

    (Maastricht School of Management and Centre for Conflict Studies, University of Utrecht)

Abstract

A holistic analysis of the implication of businesses in genocides that combines historical evidence with tentative theorization is so far unavailable. This paper aims to contribute to start to fill this gap and, ultimately, to start a process of preventive learning concerning private sector involvement in genocides. Based on a literature review, the paper identifies four main roles – victim, preventer, direct accomplice and indirect accomplice – and three main motivations – profit maximization, economic survival and institutional pragmatism – concerning corporate complicity in genocides. Subsequently, the paper explores the concrete roles that companies played in three of the most uncontested cases of corporate complicity in genocide: the Jewish, Kurdish and Darfurian genocides. The paper compares the ways in which scholars have analyzed the roles of companies in these genocidal processes and the motivations that drove companies to play this particular role. Based on these case illustrations, the most pertinent knowledge gap concerning corporate complicity in genocides is located in the absence of empirical data about the interests and motives driving corporate decision-making throughout genocides. The paper concludes that this knowledge gap needs to be addressed if we are to better understand and potentially prevent corporate complicity in genocide.

Suggested Citation

  • Nora Stel, 2014. "Business in Genocide – Understanding the how and why of corporate complicity in genocides," Working Papers 2014/28, Maastricht School of Management.
  • Handle: RePEc:msm:wpaper:2014/28
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    File URL: http://web2.msm.nl/RePEc/msm/wpaper/MSM-WP2014-28.pdf
    File Function: First version, 2014
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Massimo Guidolin & Eliana La Ferrara, 2007. "Diamonds Are Forever, Wars Are Not: Is Conflict Bad for Private Firms?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 97(5), pages 1978-1993, December.
    2. Neil Cooper, 2002. "State Collapse as Business: The Role of Conflict Trade and the Emerging Control Agenda," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 33(5), pages 935-955, November.
    3. Florian Wettstein, 2010. "The Duty to Protect: Corporate Complicity, Political Responsibility, and Human Rights Advocacy," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 96(1), pages 33-47, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Cintia Rodrigues de Oliveira & Rafael Alcadipani da Silveira, 2021. "An Essay on Corporate Crimes in the Post-Colonial Perspective: Challenging Traditional Literature," RAC - Revista de Administração Contemporânea (Journal of Contemporary Administration), ANPAD - Associação Nacional de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa em Administração, vol. 25(4), pages 190144-1901.

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