ABSTRACT
The unstable relationship between peace, business, and democracy has been understudied by practitioners and researchers. Peace- and democracy-building processes have proven to be inherently long-term and complex processes that are extremely difficult to impose from the outside. Business has the potential to influence these processes. However, questions arise on the implication and legitimacy of such intervention: Why and how can business influence those developments? Non-state actors, such as companies, might have the power to implement peace policies which pragmatically create a more peaceful environment in the workplace and community; nevertheless, progress remains vague on how businesses might contribute to creating democratic values in societies afflicted by conflict and violence. Peace and democracy are intrinsically two different concepts at the theoretical and practical levels. Peace frameworks include definitions of conflict and are often characterised by the contrast between positive and negative peace definitions. While democracy can be discussed as the form of government dedicated to the realisation of the values of self-determination at the broad level, definitions evidently encompass values of equity, individual autonomy, and human rights procedures. As such, the crux of the puzzle addressed in this book is why and how business influences peace- and democracy-building processes. This chapter introduces the reader to the book’s approach to this puzzle and presents in-depth definitions of democracy, peace, and business.
