Can Arms Be Sold Responsibly in the Global Market?

Social Philosophy Today 23:103-114 (2007)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) research has ignored the arms industry, in large part because of political assumptions that tie this industry to nation-state sovereignty. Bypassing this obsolescent Westphalian world-view, I examine the US arms industry on the basis of CSR requirements regarding the environment, social equity, profitability, and use of political power. I find the arms industry fails each of these four CSR requirements. In response to the assertion that the arms industry should not be subject to CSR requirements because it is crucial to national defense, I point out that many arms manufacturers are post-Westphalian entities more powerful in their own right than many nation-states. So they should be held responsible for the foreseeable consequences that flow from use of their products, both under civil law and, where applicable, under international human rights standards.

Author's Profile

Edmund Byrne
Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis

Analytics

Added to PP
2011-12-02

Downloads
356 (#43,127)

6 months
110 (#29,506)

Historical graph of downloads since first upload
This graph includes both downloads from PhilArchive and clicks on external links on PhilPapers.
How can I increase my downloads?