Human rights and international capital

The campaign to make international capital an engine of “human rights” continues: Apartheid suit to target U.S. and German firms (if the former South African government had been unable to borrow money it wouldn’t have lasted as long), and Myanmar Human Rights Abuse Case Against US Oil Giant to Go Ahead (UNOCAL knew the Burmese military regime was building a pipeline with the aid of corvée labor). Presumably the outcome of such suits will be that big companies demand a compulsory worldwide human rights regime with clear standards so they can avoid being sued and eliminate competition from those not subject. As in America, the biggest effect of the regime will no doubt be on matters like personnel peculiarly within the control of the companies. So look for comprehensive diversity programs to become compulsory worldwide.
Posted by Jim Kalb at June 24, 2002 09:15 AM | Send