Corporate Responsibility in an Era of New Internationalism

Wohlstetter Conference Center, Twelfth Floor,
AEI

1150 Seventeenth
Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C.
20036

Corporations
and governments are witnessing a resurgence of political and economic
internationalism. Increasingly prominent issues such as the global financial
crisis, the environment, human rights, the developing world, and trade policy
have galvanized efforts by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and
international governmental organizations to become more deeply involved in
government and corporate policies. Considering that these are often
contentiously debated issues, to what degree should sovereign governments be
held accountable to these demands? How should corporations respond in light of
their classic responsibility as wealth generators and engines of the world
economy? This conference will explore the changing roles and responsibilities of
corporations and government vis-à-vis the growing influence of NGOs and
international organizations and weigh the policy challenges that the Obama
administration will face for engaging these topics in
January.

8:45
a.m.

Registration and
Breakfast

9:00

Introduction:

Jon Entine,
AEI

9:15

Panel
I: Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility in a Global
Society

Panelists:

Adam Greene, United States Council for
International Business

Gwen Ruta,
Environmental Defense Fund

Fred
Smith, Competitive
Enterprise Institute

Moderator:

Josh Gilder, White
House Writers Group

10:45

Panel
II: The Brave New World of Global Civil Society

Panelists:

Jonathan Doh,
Villanova
University School of Business

Ian Maitland,
University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management

Anthony O’Hear,
University of
Buckingham

Moderator:

Mauro De Lorenzo,
AEI

12:00
p.m.

Luncheon

12:30

Keynote
Address:

Thomas Dichter,
author, Despite Good Intentions: Why
Development Assistance to the Third World Has
Failed

1:30

Panel
III: NGOs and Corporate Engagement

Panelists:

Michael Barnett,
University of Minnesota Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs

Beth Beloff, Golder
Associates

Elaine Sternberg,
author, Just Business: Business Ethics in
Action

Moderator:

Nicholas Capaldi,
Loyola
University

3:00

Adjournment