A Brave New World: From Business Ethics to Business Human Rights New

No longer is it the sole responsibility of the public sector (local/national governments or regulatory agencies) to root out violations of human rights and protect society from corporate abuses, malfeasance or negligence. We have entered a "Brave New World" where there has been a shift to place responsibility and accountability on, and demand transparency from, businesses organizations in the area of human rights, such as there has previously been for bribery/corruption; financial crimes; and data privacy. 

In this course, students will be introduced to core principles of business ethics as set forth in the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct. We will trace the rise of business human rights regulations globally and explore the roots behind this trend based on case studies. Students will demonstrate basic business ethics literacy, understanding of key concepts such as corporate social responsibility, corporate liability, and stakeholder theory, and insight into the main business management, regulation and reporting instruments in the areas of business ethics, business human rights, and corporate social responsibility. Further, students will apply their new knowledge and competences to concrete business cases, balancing diverse stakeholder perspectives and engaging in responsible decision-making.