Abstract
Increasingly, the private sector is playing a greater role in supporting peace building efforts in conflict and post-conflict areas by providing critical expertise, know-how, and capital. However, reports of the corrupt practices of both governments and businesses have plagued international peace building efforts, deepening the distrust of stricken communities. Businesses are perceived as being selfish and indifferent to the impact their operations may have on the social and political development of local communities. Additionally, the corruption of local governments has been cited as interfering with the creation of stability in conflict areas. Within this framework, multinational Public–Private Partnerships can exert two forms of influence: they can either exacerbate these problems, or they can become part of the solution. Without a relationship of trust among local businesses, government, and the private sector, peace building efforts will at best be mixed, and could possibly perpetuate violence in fragile states. Public and private interests are better served when Public–Private Partnerships are based upon collaboration and assist in establishing principles of good governance in conflict areas. This in turn can help build trust and regain the credibility of both sectors among local communities, which are essential in making Public–Private Partnerships more effective.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abramov, I.: 2007, ‘Responsible Business: Weaving the Fabric of a Stable Marketplace’, American Bankruptcy Law Journal 44(2), 223-236.
Adelman, C. and N. Eberstadt: 2007, ‘Foreign Assistance: What Works and What Doesn’t with Recommendations for Future Improvements’, United States Commission on Helping to Enhance the Livelihood of People Around the Globe, http://brunoleonimedia.servingfreedom.net/Eventi/071207-Paper-Eberstadt.pdf.
Anh, N.: ‘Business Ethics in Vietnam – Reality and Perspective’, http://www.isbee.org/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=147&Itemid=39.
Ballentine, K.: 2004, ‘Natural Resources, Governance, Development and Conflict’, DESA Expert Group Meeting on Conflict Prevention, Peace-building and Development, http://www.un.org/esa/peacebuilding/Action/DesaTaskForce/papers_egm20041115/Natural_Resources_KBallentine.pdf.
Ballentine, K. and H. Nitzschke: 2003, ‘Beyond Greed and Grievance: Policy Lessons from Studies’, in Political Economy of Armed Conflict: Beyond Greed and Grievance (Lynne Reinner, Colorado), http://www.ipinst.org/publication/books/detail/226-the-political-economy-of-armed-conflict-beyond-greed-and-grievance.html.
Bank Information Centre: 2006, ‘World Bank Implicated in Controversial DR Congo Mining Contracts’, http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.3021.aspx.
Bell, E.: 2008, ‘The World Bank in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Countries ‘HOW’, NOT ‘HOW MUCH’’, International Alert, http://www.international-alert.org/pdf/WBank_in_fragile_and_conflict-affected_c.pdf.
Bennett, J.: 2001, ‘Business in Zones of Conflict the Role of the Multinational in Promoting Regional Stability’, UN Global Compact Policy Dialogues, http://www.10iacc.org/download/workshops/cs50b.pdf.
Bray, J.: 2007, ‘The Role of Private Sector Development in Post-Conflict Economic Recovery’, United Nations Development Programme, http://www.undp.org/cpr/content/economic_recovery/Background_2.pdf.
Commission on Security and Economic Cooperation in Europe: ‘Testimony of Sarah Mendelson’, Helsinki Com- mission Hearings, http://www.csce.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContentRecords.ViewWitness&ContentRecord_id=808&ContentType=D&ContentRecordType=D&ParentType=H&CFID=18849146&CFTOKEN=53.
Deloitte: 2007, ‘Closing the Infrastructure Gap: The Role of Public–Private Partnerships’, A Deloitte Research Study, http://www.deloitte.com/dtt/cda/doc/content//ca_en_fas_infrastructure_gap_mar07.pdf.
Department of Justice: 2008, ‘Former Federal Employee Sentenced for Criminal Conflict of Interest’, http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2008/November/08-crm-1010.html.
Einhorn, A.: 2008, ‘Federal Contractor Misconduct Database’, Project on Government Oversight (POGO), http://ohmygov.com/blogs/general_news/archive/2008/04/23/today-s-spotlight-a-contractor-misconduct-database.aspx.
Elsea, J., M. Schwartz and K. Nakamura: 2005, ‘Private Security Contractors in Iraq: Background, Legal Status, and Other Issues’, Congressional Research Service (CRS) Report to Congress, http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL32419.pdf.
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative: 2009, ‘EITI Fact Sheet’, http://eitransparency.org/files/2009-10-20%20EITI%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf.
Faundez, J.: 2000, ‘Legal Reform in Developing Countries’, Law Social Justice & Global Development Journal 1, http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/law/elj/lgd/2000_1/faundez/faundez.rtf.
Fofana, L.: 2008, ‘Building Peace in Sierra Leone’, Human Rights Tribune, http://www.humanrights-geneva.info/spip.php?page=print_article&id_article=3415.
Gerson, A.(2001) ‘Peace Building: The Private Sector’s Role’, The American Journal of International Law. 95:102-119.
Haufler, V.: 2006, ‘Foreign Investors in Conflict Zones: New Expectations’, Ridgway Working Group on the Political Economy of International Security, http://www.ridgway.pitt.edu/working_papers/PENE/HauferFinalCopy.pdf.
Holland, K.: 2007, ‘A New Corporate Path to Disaster Relief’, The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/23/jobs/23mgmt.html.
Human Rights First: 2008, ‘Private Security Contractors at War, Ending the Culture of Impunity’, http://www.humanrightsfirst.info/pdf/08115-usls-psc-final.pdf.
International Center for Entrepreneurial Studies: 2003, ‘Business Conduct Code’, University of Bucharest, http://www.ita.doc.gov/goodgovernance/adobe/SABACodeofconductJan03.pdf.
International Trade Administration (ITA) Accomplishments: U.S. Department of Commerce, http://www.ita.doc.gov/goodgovernance/accomplishments.asp.
International Trade Administration (ITA), Good Governance Program: 2004, ‘Business Ethics: A Manual for Managing a Responsible Business Enterprise in Emerging Market Economies’, U.S. Department of Commerce, http://www.ita.doc.gov/goodgovernance/business_ethics/manual.asp or in Russian, http://www.ita.doc.gov/goodgovernance/business_ethics/manualRUS.asp or in Spanish http://www.ita.doc.gov/goodgovernance/Etica%20comercial/menu_page.asp.
International Trade Administration (ITA), Office of Eastern Europe, Russia and Independent States: 2003, ‘Handbook on Commercial Dispute Resolution in the Russian Federation’, U.S. Department of Commerce, http://www.ita.doc.gov/goodgovernance/commercial_dispute_resolution/russianhandbook.asp.
International Trade Administration (ITA) Publications: U.S. Department of Commerce, http://www.ita.doc.gov/goodgovernance/publications.asp.
International Trade Administration (ITA), Russia Corporate Governance Manual: U.S. Department of Commerce, http://www.ita.doc.gov/goodgovernance/CorpGovManual.asp.
International Workshop on Public–Private Dialogue: 2006, http://www.publicprivatedialogue.org/charter/.
Lazarus, P., S. Jimmerson and S. Brock: 2003, ‘Respond ing to Natural Disasters: Helping Children and Families Information for School Crisis Teams’, National Association of School Psychologists, http://www.neahin.org/Crisis%20Response%20Lesson%20Plans/Responding%20to%20Natural%20Disasters%20-Helping%20Children%20and%20Famalies.doc.
Le Billion, P.: 2003, ‘Buying Peace or Fuelling War: The Role of Corruption in Armed Conflicts’, Journal of International Development 15, 413–426, http://www.geog.ubc.ca/~lebillon/corruption.pdf.
Lilly, S.: 2007, ‘A Return to Competitive Contracting Congress Needs to Clean Up the Procurement Process Mess’, Center for American Progress, http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/05/competitive_contracting.html.
McLoughlin, M.: 2002, ‘The European Debate on Corporate Social Responsibility and Conflict Prevention’, Department for Conflict Prevention, Brussels, http://www.inwent.org/ef-texte/publicbads/mcloughlin.htm.
Misol, L.: 2008, ‘On the Margins of Profit Rights at Risk in the Global Economy’, Human Rights Watch and the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice (CHRGJ), Vol. 20, No. 3(G), http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/bhr0208_1.pdf.
Mount, M.: 2008, ‘U.S. Using Contractors in Iraq at Unprecedented Rate’, CNN Report, http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/12/iraq.contractors/index.html.
National Council for Public–Private Partnerships (NCPPP): Public–Private Partnerships Defined, http://www.ncppp.org/howpart/index.shtml#define.
Nelson, J. and J. Moberg: 2003, ‘Rebuilding Bridges Opportunities and Challenges for Responsible Private Sector Engagement in Iraq’s Reconstruction’, International Business Leaders Forum, Policy Paper Number 3, http://www.winwinpartner.com/_downloads/080603IBLFIraq.pdf.
O’Donnell, M.: 2006, ‘Post-Conflict Corruption: A Rule of Law Agenda?’, International Peace Academy, http://www.u4.no/pdf/?file=/themes/ces/postconflict/odonnell.pdf.
Rice-Oxley, M.: 2007, ‘Why Graft Thrives in Post Conflict Zones’, CSMonitor, http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0317/p06s01-wogi.html.
Safaralieva, R., S. Mammadov and V. Gaziev: 2005, ‘Business Ethics Codes for 10 Azerbaijan Companies’, U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, http://www.transparency.az/transpfiles/be1eng.doc and ‘Business Ethics Manual for Azerbaijan Companies’, 2004, http://www.transparency.az/transpfiles/e6.pdf.
Savage, C.: 2008, ‘Sex, Drug Use and Graft Cited in Interior Department’, NY Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/11/washington/11royalty.html.
Sherman, J.: 2001, ‘Private Sector Actors in Zones of Conflict: Research Challenges and Policy Responses’, International Peace Academy, http://www.fafo.no/nsp/ipa-report.pdf. Stakeholder Alliance: ‘Sunshine Standards for Corporate Reporting to Stakeholders’, http://www.capponline.org/sunstds.html.
Tokyo International Conference on African Development IV: 2008, ‘Yokohama Action Plan’, http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/africa/ticad/ticad4/doc/actoin.pdf.
Tripathi, S. and C. Gunduz: 2008, ‘A Role for the Private Sector in Peace Process? Examples, and Implications for Third-Party Mediation’, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, http://www.hdcentre.org/files/Salil%20Tripathi%20Mediation%20Business%20WEB.pdf.
U.K. Department for International Development: Glossary, http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-DFID/Glossary/?key=P.
UN General Assembly Report of Secretary-General: 2001, ‘Cooperation Between the United Nations and All Relevant Partners, in Particular the Private Sector’, A/56/323, http://www.un.org/partnerships/Docs/partnershipreport_a-56-323.pdf.
UN Millennium Project: 2005, ‘Practical Plan to Achieve Millennium Development Goals’, UN Secretary General, http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/documents/MainReportChapter9-lowres.pdf.
United Nations Development Assistance Framework: 2007, ‘Sierra Lione’, http://planipolis.iiep.unesco.org/upload/Sierra%20Leone/SL_draft_undafrpt_08-10.pdf.
United Nations: ‘Our Common Future, Towards Sustainable Development,’ Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development, http://www.un-documents.net/ocf-02.htm.
United States Government Accountability Office: 2008, ‘Defense Contracting Additional Personal Conflict of Interest Safeguards Needed for Certain DOD Contractor Employees’, http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08169.pdf.
U.S. Department of State, Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization, http://www.state.gov/s/crs/.
U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: 2008, ‘Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Identified by Oversight Committee Investigations’, http://oversight.house.gov/documents/20081003181709.pdf.
U.S. Trade and Development Agency: ‘Public–Private Partnerships’, http://www.ustda.gov/pubs/brochures/USTDA_PublicPrivatePartnerships.pdf.
Wood, W. (2005) ‘Post Conflict Intervention Revisited: Relief, Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Reform’. Fletcher Forum of World Affairs 29:119-132.
World Congress III Against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents: 2008, ‘World Congress III Highlights the Importance of Corporate Social Responsibility in the Fight Against Sexual Exploitation’, http://www.iiicongressomundial.net/index.php?id_noticia=298&pg=noticias&inicial=2&id_pg=6&sid=d21b850d2704e0621cd18caf18e4fc14&id_sistema=2&id_idioma=2.
World Economic Forum: 2008, ‘Collaboration Key to Success as New Initiatives are Launched in the Field of Humanitarian Relief at Davos’, http://www.weforum.org/en/media/Latest%20Press%20Releases/index.htm.
World Economic Forum: Our Organization, http://www.webforum.org/en/about/Our%20Organization/index.htm.
Acknowledgments
The author acknowledges the valuable assistance in the preparation of this article provided by Lisa Koverko, J.D./LL.B., student at the University of Windsor and the University of Detroit Mercy and Kara Smith, J.D., Student-at-law at Heenan Blaikie LLP.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Abramov, I. Building Peace in Fragile States – Building Trust is Essential for Effective Public–Private Partnerships. J Bus Ethics 89 (Suppl 4), 481–494 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-010-0402-8
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-010-0402-8