Human Rights and the Ethics of Globalization

Human Rights and the Ethics of Globalization provides a balanced, thoughtful discussion of the globalization of the economy and the ethical considerations inherent in the many changes it has prompted. The book's introduction maps out the philosophical foundations for constructing an ethic of globalization, taking into account both traditional and contemporary sources. These ideals are applied to four specific test cases: the ethics of investing in China, the case study of the Firestone company's presence in Liberia, free-trade and fair-trade issues pertaining to the coffee trade with Ethiopia and the use of low-wage factories in Mexico to serve the US market. The book concludes with a comprehensive discussion of how to enforce global compliance with basic human rights standards, with particular attention to stopping abuses by multinational corporations through litigation under the Alien Tort Claims Act.

Table of Contents:
Prologue; Part I. Philosophical Foundations: 1. Defining human rights in a coherent manner; 2. Near neighbors, distant neighbors and the ethics of globalization; 3. Ethical guidelines for business in an age of globalization; Part II. Practical Applications: 4. Human rights and the ethics of investment in China; 5. Liberia and Firestone: a case study; 6. Free trade, fair trade, and coffee farmers in Ethiopia; 7. Maquiladoras: exploitation, economic opportunity or both?; Part III. The Challenge of Enforcement: 8. Possibilities and problems; 9. Human rights, US multinational corporations and the Alien Tort Claims Act; Epilogue.

About the Author :
Daniel E. Lee is Professor of Ethics and director of the Center for the Study of Ethics at Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois. He is the author of numerous articles and books, including Hope Is Where We Least Expect to Find It (1993), Generations and the Challenge of Justice (1996), Navigating Right and Wrong (2002) and Freedom vs Intervention (2005). He has also published op-ed pieces in USA Today, the Chicago Tribune and other newspapers and is a published poet and author of fiction. Elizabeth J. Lee is Assistant Federal Public Defender in Houston, Texas. She received her JD from Northwestern University School of Law and served as a clerk at the Center for International Human Rights there. She also clerked for Arizona Supreme Court Justice Michael D. Ryan and has published an article in the Global Studies Journal.

Review :
'Dan and Elizabeth Lee have written a concise, courageous, and creative book. Richly philosophical, they dare to go beyond the philosopher's ruminations and provide frameworks, guidance, and answers for some of today's most difficult issues in corporate responsibility. This is one of the best books in business ethics I've read in years!' Timothy Fort, Institute for Corporate Responsibility and George Washington University School of Business 'In Human Rights and the Ethics of Globalization, the Lees have done the unthinkable: they have managed to create a clear, coherent framework for exploring and understanding one of the more complex topics of our time. By providing a philosophical foundation for delving into a phenomenon that crosses international boundaries, affects private actors and governments alike, and operates along political, social, and economic dimensions, the Lees have produced a major contribution, which will be appreciated by scholars and lay readers alike. The seamless transition between theory and practical case studies makes the book a truly enjoyable reading experience.' Georgie Geraghty, University of Chicago Law School