Who should care about the role of the multinational Corporations
(MNCs) in a globalizing world? Many people. As future policy-makers,
lawyers, or managers, it is important for you to understand the role
of large multinational business enterprises. Whether you are a labor
lawyer concerned about global trade issues or labor standards, an
environmental activist concerned about the role of MNCs with respect
to environmental policy, or you work as a manager or in-house
counsel for a major MNC, it is important for you to understand the
impact of MNCs on their stakeholders and the society in a
globalizing world, and the various attempts to regulate MNCs.

This course will start with cases illustrating MNCs’ globalizing
strategies, and the implications of this globalizing process.  What
responsibilities do the more and more powerful and outreaching MNCs
have to its stakeholders: consumers, employees, governments, the
environment, and the public in general? We will use specific cases
to examine the role of MNCs in perpetuating or alleviating some of
the negative consequences of globalization. Further, we will study
and compare various proposals to define the social responsibilities
of MNCs. Finally, through an evaluation report, you will choose a
publicly-held MNC to examine and incorporate your own research with
the reading below to address the role your firm plays in a
globalizing world.

Class Meeting:  Thursday, 5:45-8:15

Instructor:  Haiyan Liu, criminal justice department