Corporations, Conflict, and International Crimes
Assignments
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (business-humanrights.org)
1: Introduction
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A. Literature Questions
1. Which developments have led to increased attention for the role of corporations in
conflict and the commission of international crimes?
The increased attention on the role of corporations in conflict and international crimes can be
attributed to the heightened globalization of multinational corporations in the late 20th
century. As these corporations expanded their operations into challenging sociopolitical
contexts, such as conflict zones and authoritarian regimes, the inadequacy of national-level
regulations became apparent.
Simultaneously, the emergence of the international human rights regime, and the
establishment of the International Criminal Court, brought a process of proliferation and
consolidation of individual accountability for atrocity crimes. This shift led to the recognition
of the need for corporations to comply with human rights obligations, and in extension
atrocity crimes.
2. In which ways can a corporation become involved in the commission of international
crimes?
Corporations can become involved in the commission of international crimes through direct
or indirect participation. Direct perpetration includes that employees of corporations are
themselves the actual perpetrators of atrocity crimes. Indirect perpetration holds that the
atrocities are committed by their partners. The contribution of corporations can either enable,
facilitate, or exacerbate these crimes. Corporations can contribute to the commission of
atrocity crimes in roughly two ways: as buyers or as suppliers.
1. Buyers. Corporations may become involved when their extraction or
production processes contribute to atrocities, or when revenues fund armed conflicts.
Some companies have been accused of financing conflict and atrocity crimes by
purchasing conflict commodities or paying armed factions for resource extraction.
2. Suppliers. Corporations can be implicated if their products or services are used
in the commission of atrocity crimes.
Corporations may enter into involvement in atrocity crimes through two pathways:
1. Decision to operate in high-risk areas. Corporations may intentionally choose to
operate in regions with a high risk of atrocity crimes. They become principal offenders
of those crimes.
2. Unplanned involvement. Corporations already present in a country may find
themselves involved due to changes in the political situation, such as the rise of
dictators or civil wars. Their decision to stay may lead to accusations of contributing
to crimes in the new political landscape.
→ Different types of typologies, which one to use depends on the goal.
Assignments
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (business-humanrights.org)
1: Introduction
—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. Literature Questions
1. Which developments have led to increased attention for the role of corporations in
conflict and the commission of international crimes?
The increased attention on the role of corporations in conflict and international crimes can be
attributed to the heightened globalization of multinational corporations in the late 20th
century. As these corporations expanded their operations into challenging sociopolitical
contexts, such as conflict zones and authoritarian regimes, the inadequacy of national-level
regulations became apparent.
Simultaneously, the emergence of the international human rights regime, and the
establishment of the International Criminal Court, brought a process of proliferation and
consolidation of individual accountability for atrocity crimes. This shift led to the recognition
of the need for corporations to comply with human rights obligations, and in extension
atrocity crimes.
2. In which ways can a corporation become involved in the commission of international
crimes?
Corporations can become involved in the commission of international crimes through direct
or indirect participation. Direct perpetration includes that employees of corporations are
themselves the actual perpetrators of atrocity crimes. Indirect perpetration holds that the
atrocities are committed by their partners. The contribution of corporations can either enable,
facilitate, or exacerbate these crimes. Corporations can contribute to the commission of
atrocity crimes in roughly two ways: as buyers or as suppliers.
1. Buyers. Corporations may become involved when their extraction or
production processes contribute to atrocities, or when revenues fund armed conflicts.
Some companies have been accused of financing conflict and atrocity crimes by
purchasing conflict commodities or paying armed factions for resource extraction.
2. Suppliers. Corporations can be implicated if their products or services are used
in the commission of atrocity crimes.
Corporations may enter into involvement in atrocity crimes through two pathways:
1. Decision to operate in high-risk areas. Corporations may intentionally choose to
operate in regions with a high risk of atrocity crimes. They become principal offenders
of those crimes.
2. Unplanned involvement. Corporations already present in a country may find
themselves involved due to changes in the political situation, such as the rise of
dictators or civil wars. Their decision to stay may lead to accusations of contributing
to crimes in the new political landscape.
→ Different types of typologies, which one to use depends on the goal.
