Recognizing the rights of “others”: A framework for corporate human rights violations in international business

Abstract

This research critically examines corporate human rights violations (CHRVs) regarding exploitation and inequalities within the international business system. From the context of the emancipatory agenda of critical cross-cultural management, we present a novel framework for evaluating CHRVs based on a comprehensive analysis of reported cases between 2007 and 2017. Delving into the power dynamics and privileges that cast global workers, suppliers, and communities as the “other,” our research sheds light on how this conceptualization fuels decisions that put the rights of these “others” at risk. Our findings highlight violations related to all dimensions (abuse, labor, development, environment, and health) across industries and geographies. Notably, our findings align with the critical cross-cultural management literature on structural oppression that North American and Western European companies account for a significant number of violations in developing countries.