ABSTRACT
The bourgeoning literature on corporate social responsibility (CSR) rarely examines the predatory enterprise culture of multinational corporations (MNCs) even though the practices have real consequences for the life chances of millions of people. Corporations and MNCs are increasingly willing to increase their profits through indulgence in price fixing, tax avoidance/evasion, bribery and corruption, money laundering and practices that show scant regard for social norms and even laws. MNCs legitimize their social credentials by making promises of responsible and ethical conduct, but organizational culture and practices have not necessarily been aligned with publicly espoused claims. The chapter locates business behaviour within the broader dynamics of global capitalism to argue that the desire of MNCs for higher profits and at almost any cost is not constrained by rules, laws or even periodic regulatory action. The chapter seeks to bring the antisocial behaviour of MNCs under scrutiny and thus extend the possibility of research into social and business culture, ethics, social disorder and crime. Publicly available evidence is used to provide case studies to show that MNCs engage in bribery, corruption, money laundering and tax evasion/avoidance in developing countries, as against their claims of responsible social conduct. The chapter also encourages reflections on MNCs’ endemic antisocial and predatory practices and offers some suggestions for reform.
