PEACE-BUILDING; THE PRIVATE SECTOR'S ROLE (SOCIAL CHALLENGES IN OIL AND GAS INVESTMENT)

摘要

In today's world, the private sector is the dominant engine of growth - the principal creator of value and managerial resources. If the private sector does not deliver economic growth and economic opportunity, equitable and sustainable around the world, then peace will remain fragile and social justice a distant dream (Koffi Anan). One of the realities of doing oil and gas business in the global marketplace is that many managers in this type of multinational corporations find themselves operating extractive industries in areas of armed conflict, indigenous cultural disputes, epidemic disease and other kinds of social upheaval which destabilizes business operations. This new challenge requires business managers to engage in conflict resolution and peace-building strategies in situations where promoting peace is an essential element of successful business operations and stable working environment. The involvement of oil and gas private sectors in peace-building is essential. Oil and gas industries usually have assets that make particular locations hard to leave, for instance, when a high technology industry has been constructed with the availability of highly trained personnel and links to other companies and local governments. This long standing and extensive relationships, obviously forces the company to remain in the location and continue the operation. The other reason is that the state with internal conflict is often economically weak. The government is more likely to be unable to cope entirely with the emerging demands of recovery of conflict torn regions. Consequently, business communities who are financially, logistically, and administratively prepared should intervene to mitigate violence. There are three types of corporate engagement; core business activities, social investment and philanthropy, and policy dialogue. To allow the business role in conflict mitigation become more effective and sustainable, it requires other entities to work with. Building partnerships with the government, NGOs and CBOs is of paramount importance, in addition to strengthening partnership with private sectors. Private sector can also play as a dialogue partner and donor in the promotion of peace in their operational area. The role of the 'collective group of seven of business associations' in Northern Ireland and an individual capacity of a chief executive of a multinational company in changing the face of politics in Mozambique are two examples of the role of private sectors in peace-building. The emergence of extractive industries around the world operated by giant multi- national companies in rural populations has greatly contributed to the economic growth of the host country. On the other hand, their operations have also created social problems for local populations, such as discriminatory access to employment, economic benefits, education, health services, environmental degradation, and human rights abuse by corporate security personnel, and the loss and damage to ancestral lands.