Home Advantage in the Politics of Shaming: Evidence from the OECD Guidelines (Pre-Recorded)

• In Event: Governance Implications of Multinational Firm Activity

Abstract

Shaming is an important strategy to enforce global norms on Multinational Corporations (MNCs). Under what conditions do governments shame MNCs for violating international norms on human rights and the environment? This article analyzes the relationship between NGOs' demands for shaming and home governments' responses. Drawing from novel data on specific instances of alleged violations of the OECD Guidelines, we show that NGOs with a home country presence enjoy a unique advantage in pressuring governments to condemn MNCs for norm violations. In contrast, the involvement of transnational NGOs with strong international profiles or NGOs with closer ties to victims in host countries does not increase the likelihood of shaming. This article shows that NGOs' domestic presence constitutes an important part of the enforcement of global business norms.

Author

• Boram Lee, University of Pennsylvania