Corporate Social Responsibility, Human Rights and the Law

Olufemi Amao is a lecturer in law at Brunel University, UK. His research interests include Corporate Social Responsibility, Corporate Law Theory, Corporate Governance, Multinational Corporations, Human Rights and International Commercial Law.

This book considers the legal control of multinational corporations (MNCs) for violations of human rights from a developing country's perspective, examining the role for corporate social responsibility (CSR) in regulating the conduct of MNCs. The book uses the case study of Nigeria which is host to major MNCs from the EU and the US, to show that the CSR concept is currently insufficient to deal with externalities emanating from MNCs' operations including human rights violations. The book goes on to argue that whilst control of MNCs involves regulation at the international level, more emphasis needs to be placed on possibilities at home States and host States where there are stronger bases for the control of corporations. It examines possibilities in the European Union, exploring ways in which the EU can ensure that MNCs from its territory do not violate human rights when operating abroad.

Introduction 1. Multinational Corporations, States and International Regulation: Historical Background 2. Major Attempts at the International Level to Control Multinational Corporations 3. Corporate Social Responsibility and its Relationship to Law 4. Legal and Institutional Framework and the Control of Multinationals in Developing Countries with a focus on Nigeria 5. Regional Human Rights System and Multinational Corporations: The Case of the African Regional Human Rights System 6.The European Union and Corporate Responsibility in Vulnerable States 7. Judicial Process as a Means of Promoting Corporate Responsibility Abroad: Extraterritoriality 8. The Foundation for a Global Company Law for Multinational Corporations: The Complimentary Role at the International Level. Conclusions