Norm Contestation in the BHR Field—The Role of Corporate Actors as Entrepreneurs, Antipreneurs, and Saboteurs

The quest for corporate accountability remains unabated in the business and human rights (BHR) field. This paper examines the role of multinational corporations (MNCs) and Business Interest Associations (BIA) as entrepreneurs, antipreneurs and saboteurs in setting human rights standards. Through thi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Business and human rights journal 2024-10, Vol.9 (3), p.381-401
Main Author: Ogunranti, Akinwumi
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accountability
Business
Concept formation
Entrepreneurs
Finance
Governance
Human rights
Institutionalization
International business enterprises
International law
International organizations
International relations
Multinational corporations
Norms
Regulation
Scholarly Article
Stockholders
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Summary:The quest for corporate accountability remains unabated in the business and human rights (BHR) field. This paper examines the role of multinational corporations (MNCs) and Business Interest Associations (BIA) as entrepreneurs, antipreneurs and saboteurs in setting human rights standards. Through this conceptualization, this paper argues that corporate accountability remains elusive because of corporate actors’ normative power and influence in the BHR norm contestation. It attributes corporate actors’ influence in the norm contestation to the UN multistakeholder design that sees nonstate actors as partners and stakeholders in setting global human rights standards. This article then argues that to force a norm change in the BHR field, there is a need to rethink the BHR governance model. Corporate actors must be reconceptualized as ‘regulated individuals’ during norm discussions and standard-setting processes.
ISSN:2057-0198
2057-0201
2057-0201
DOI:10.1017/bhj.2024.19