Global Issues “When in Rome do as the Romans do?”

Multinational Corporations Advantages for multinationals –Inexpensive labor –Natural resources –Favorable taxes –Fresh markets Advantages for host country –New jobs –Better jobs (higher pay and greater challenge) –Technology transfer –Social benefits from sharing the wealth

Multinational Corporations Issues: –Loss of jobs at home –Host country loss of resources, control of trade, and political independence –Multinational usurping control of host government –Moral responsibilities fo corporations and individuals operating is less developed countries

International Rights Are ethics relative or are there absolute rights to … Freedom of physical movement Ownership of property Freedom from torture A fair trial Nondiscriminatory treatment (based on race or sex) Physical security Freedom of speech and association Minimal education Politcal participation subsistence

Example Cases Union Carbide (Bhopal) – tried to hide knowledge of safety violation Lockheed (Japan) – authorized secret payments of around $12 million to representative of Japan’s Prime Minister Shell (Nigeria) – disregarded the safety and livelihood of local people when drilling and laying pipelines WTO – trade agreements bar US from imposing environmental restriction of imports

Defense Industry Issues Military buildups are prone to problems due to –Secrecy (limited oversight, limited availability of technology, cover-up of mistakes) –Urgency (waste, oversight issues)

Defense Discussion Topic Just-War Theory – war acceptable when 1. the war must be fought for a just cause 2. the motives are good 3. it must follow a call from higher authority to legitimize it 4. the use of force is based on necessity 5. noncombatant immunity 6. proportionality of damage and consequences to need and cost Describe a scenario for the conduct of a just war. Describe the kinds of weapons engineers might have to develop to wage one.

Global Market Web sites support easy access to global markets –Must be able to handle various methods of payment Non-credit card business Checks on foreign banks Wired transfers –Must be able to communicate with customer s in foreign language Phone calls from those not speaking English –Must be able to translate Web material to appropriate language Some programs available for this purpose