Foreword

In recent times, conflict is becoming the most important factor in social, economic, and political spheres of human society. In international relations and politics, conflicts among nations are rampant and on most occasions violent, even though the old superpower conflict between the United States and Russia has ended and taken a different form. The incidents of terrorism, ethnic conflict, nuclear threat, insurgency, rebellion, and kidnapping have increased greatly. The threat of the 2008 economic crisis has shown the deepening economic conflict between developing and developed countries, countries within common markets such as the European Union, international trade, and banking sector. Because of globalization, new forms of social conflicts in many countries have cropped up, and anti-minority animosity, mostly religious, has developed. The old established values of the society have been challenged. In addition, environmental conflicts related to energy, water, and other natural resources have grown. Conflicts, such as global warming, have placed the countries of the world in different camps. Fracking for natural gas pits economic interests and environmental safety against each other. All these problems are interrelated.

To solve or at least manage these conflicts and build a sustainable, peaceful, and equitable society, we need rational, objective, and ethical policies on a micro and macro level to be pursued by all stakeholders. The most important stakeholders in this process are the business communities. Their role and policies greatly affect the magnitude and nature of this conflict and make this world more peaceful. The survival of society greatly depends on the functioning of a strong, progressive, and ethical business community. The leaders of this community know that without Peace there is no business and that business can still maximize profit without becoming unethical and negligent of human rights, equality, and justice. The role of a business depends on the ethical attitude of its leaders, mission, vision, and policies.

This book addresses these subjects, covering a wide area such as non-violence, ethical reasoning, mediation and negotiation, business leadership, human rights, freedom and social justice.