Local Business, Local Peace? Intergroup and Economic Dynamics

The field of "business for peace" recognizes the role that businesses can play in peacebuilding. However, like much of the discussion concerning business in conflict zones, it has prioritized the view of multinationals, often overlooking the role of indigenous local firms. The economic, so...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of business ethics 2021-11, Vol.173 (4), p.835-854
Main Authors: Joseph, Jay, Katsos, John E., Daher, Mariam
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Business and Management
Business Ethics
Case studies
Companies
Conflict
Economic development
Economics
Education
Ethics
Intergroup relations
Local businesses
Management
Multinational corporations
Original Paper
Owners
Peace
Philosophy
Positioning
Quality of Life Research
Refugees
Rule of law
Rules
Sectarianism
Small business
Social development
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Summary:The field of "business for peace" recognizes the role that businesses can play in peacebuilding. However, like much of the discussion concerning business in conflict zones, it has prioritized the view of multinationals, often overlooking the role of indigenous local firms. The economic, social, and intergroup dynamics experienced by local businesses in conflict zones are understudied, with the current paper beginning by positioning micro- and small enterprises (MSEs) in the peacebuilding debate, then engaging with multidisciplinary works to understand how they foster peace. Through a case study set in north Lebanon, we conducted semi-structured interviews with twenty-three MSE owners in one industry who operate across sectarian divisions and with recently displaced Syrian refugees. Our findings indicate that local business activity can simultaneously promote peace and foster conflict, with peacebuilding improved when intergroup differences are reduced within the operating environment. Furthermore, the importance of economic development was elevated for local businesses, suggesting that peace through mechanisms such as social development, the rule of law, and training, is only achieved if economic needs are alleviated through these measures. We conclude by citing how contextual factors in conflict zones can enhance intergroup differences, and how resolving such factors can promote peacebuilding, with further empirical work needed in this area.
ISSN:0167-4544
1573-0697
DOI:10.1007/s10551-020-04515-3