ABSTRACT
The conduct of many multinational corporations suggests that corporate social responsibility means more than profit maximization. Human-rights norms are now evolving toward an increased recognition of the collective as well. Included among the civil and political rights, and the economic, social, and cultural rights, are rights that are most effective when used by a group. The multinationals' behavior becomes more predictably compatible with human-rights norms, while these norms further support the corporations' move toward conduct consistent with human rights. As the human-rights norms are becoming worldwide as opposed to purely West/North-dominated, they are becoming more collective in nature. The emergence of these norms is a kind of unstructured, democratic process and, therefore, benefits from the legitimacy imparted by a system akin to democratic voting. The similarity of behavior and norms reflects an existing norm of corporate social responsibility, one that has evolved in the greater community, not just among the commercial-corporate arena's opinion makers.
