Sekere aspekte van die internasionale regulering van transnasionale maatskappye

Abstract

This study attempts to enhance understanding of the attitudes of states toward transnational corporations. For this purpose, two examples of international attempts to regulate transnational corporations are discussed: one initiated by the Third World through the United Nations, and one by the industrialised countries through the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The discussion takes place within the context of the changing international political and economical system. These are the main findings: Both the OECD and UN actions result from the confused international situation of the early seventies. Radical Third World countries consider the international system and transnational corporations as the main causes of their lack of progress, and demand in their role as the new ruling coalition in the UN a 'New International Economic Order' (NIEO) and strict control of transnational corporations. Industrialised countries reject through the OECD Declaration of 1976 the NIEO because of the legally binding regulation of transnational corporations and the denial of rules of international law.

As a result, the immediate aims of the UN majority is to obtain greater advantages from transnational corporations through certain rules of conduct within the existing international system. Although major problems are preventing the early completion of the UN Code of Conduct, it would be unwise to reject it as futile. International interdependence is likely to increase even more, and in the light of inevitable international tension, a global code of conduct will offer a degree of stability for both transnational corporations and states because it will increase the predictability of international behaviour. Internationalstability is of the utmost importance for developing countries because it will contribute to a healthy international and thus national economical climate, so that they can formulate with more hope of success their development aims. This can lead ultimately to a more equitable distribution of wealth in the world and greater political stability in the long term.