Research, Engagement, Advocacy: Exploring the Delicate Role of the New ‘all-in-one BHR scholar’
Type
presentation
Date Issued
2019-11-27
Author(s)
Wettstein, Florian
Abstract (De)
The business and human rights (BHR) field is characterized by a high degree of engagement between scholars and practitioners, advocates, policy-makers and others, who interact closely and often move almost seamlessly from one role into the other. This raises the question about the proper place and purpose of scholarship and about the role of academics in the BHR field. Should BHR scholarship be engaged, take a stance, and advocate for human rights respect, or should it ‘merely’ observe and explain? To what extend can and ought BHR academics be political in their work and wear different ‘hats’ that may be seen as compromising the ‘neutrality’ of their research? At a more institutional level, should universities, and the dedicated BHR centers and initiatives they host, serve a mere ‘academic’ purpose or do they have a proactive role to play in advancing and advocating for human rights respect of companies? In connection with the 2019 Forum theme on the role of governments as catalysts for corporate human rights respect, this question is perhaps particularly relevant for public universities as a potential instrument of governments to advance human rights. However, the line between ‘engaged research’ and conflicts of interests is often thin and the ties that may result from such work can threaten academic freedom and independence. This panel aims at exploring this delicate line between research, engagement, and advocacy and the consequences and ramifications – e.g., conflict of interest, loss of academic freedom, ‘corporate capture’ – that may result from ‘getting it wrong’.
Organized by: BHRJ, BR2R
Moderator: Michael Santoro, President, Global Business and Human Rights Scholars Association and Co-Editor, Business and Human Rights Journal
Panelists:
Florian Wettstein, Director, Institute for Business Ethics, University of St. Gallen, (Switzerland)
Rebecca MacKinnon, Director, Ranking Digital Rights (USA)
Carolina Olarte Bacares, Directora Centro de estudios de derecho internacional (Colombia)
Olena Uvarova, National Law University of Yaroslav Mudriy (Ukraine)
Organized by: BHRJ, BR2R
Moderator: Michael Santoro, President, Global Business and Human Rights Scholars Association and Co-Editor, Business and Human Rights Journal
Panelists:
Florian Wettstein, Director, Institute for Business Ethics, University of St. Gallen, (Switzerland)
Rebecca MacKinnon, Director, Ranking Digital Rights (USA)
Carolina Olarte Bacares, Directora Centro de estudios de derecho internacional (Colombia)
Olena Uvarova, National Law University of Yaroslav Mudriy (Ukraine)
Language
English
HSG Classification
not classified
Event Title
United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights
Event Location
United Nations, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland
Event Date
November 25-27
Subject(s)
Eprints ID
258671