ABSTRACT
The trend among businesses to embrace a “philosophy of peace and democracy” is partly motivated by the significant challenges associated with enforcing such ideals through legally binding regulations. As discussed in previous chapters, these challenges are especially pronounced when companies operate across multiple jurisdictions through branches, subsidiaries, or exclusive delivery agreements. Business responsibility is increasingly shaped by both global and national governance frameworks, focusing on areas such as human rights and environmental stewardship. Achieving meaningful social responsibility within corporations requires a fundamental re-evaluation of traditional corporate structures. Debates regarding the appropriate scope of business responsibility are both timely and inherently contentious, with little consensus achieved thus far. The evolving role of business in promoting peace and democracy remains complex and somewhat elusive. There is a clear need for innovative approaches to conceptualising businesses’ expanding social and political functions.
This chapter seeks to introduce innovative frameworks for analysing cross-societal business responsibility with respect to peace and democracy. It proposes critical research avenues grounded in three principles identified by Hsieh and the concept of social capital. Additionally, the chapter recommends the integration of peace- and democracy-building considerations into the broader field of business and society scholarship, while carefully recognising the study’s inherent limitations.
