ABSTRACT
The United Nations (UN) has transformed itself from an institution previously known for being caught up in Cold War-wary attitudes toward business. The UN can be characterised as having undergone several phases of development with regard to its relationship with business. The UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, is responsible for redefining the UN's relationship with business. The international business community, for its part, has responded to the UN's overtures and has engaged in increasing numbers of activities with the world body that represent positive corporate citizenship practices. The Engaging Phase of the UN–business relationship could also be characterised as opening the floodgates. The most prominent UN–business–NGO gathering took place at the UN headquarters in New York on 26 July 2000 with the formal launch of the Global Compact. Partnerships between the UN and business have the potential to positively alter the face of globalisation. Institutionalisation of partnerships with socially responsible business through the UN offers the best way to humanise globalisation.
