The two-day Business Horizons Workshop, set for Sept. 26-27, brings Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and Institute for International Business together with the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame, to focus on bridging the gap between business and peace studies. The first day is a private, invitation-only session, while the second day is open to the public.
“This gathering seeks to consider what the next 25 years or so will look like,” said organizer Timothy L. Fort, affiliated scholar of business ethics at the Kroc Institute, who holds the Eveleigh Professorship in business ethics at the Kelley School of Business. “We will look in terms of disciplines the field might encompass, geographical areas to be considered, and values of business organizations and how those values may or may not foster peace.”
“The State of the Art in Business and Peace” is the focus for day one, with participants and conference co-organizers Jason Miklian, senior researcher of business development at the Centre for Development and the Environment at the University of Oslo, and John Katsos, associate professor of management at the American University of Sharjah. Other invited scholars represent the Wharton School of Management (USA), University of York (UK), Peace Research Institute Oslo (Norway), Kedge Business School (France), Universidad de los Andes (Colombia), and others.
The second day’s theme, “Bringing the Business and Peace Agenda Forward,” will be an opportunity for engagement with the public via Zoom. The discussion will center on the role of business in Colombia, with four scholars presenting papers on business and industry issues in the country, including Richard (Drew) Marcantonio (Ph.D. ‘21), assistant teaching professor of management and organization at the Mendoza College of Business.
Marcantonio’s paper, “Environmental violence and Enterprise: The outsized role of business for environmental peacebuilding,” will also be included in a special workshop issue of Business Horizons. The academic journal aims to showcase articles that provide empirical evidence and theoretical contributions on how organizations can and should adjust their management and operations to adapt to the current era of uncertainty--particularly related to climate change, globalization, and social inequalities.
In his article, Marcantonio delves into the role of business as a primary producer and contributor to environmental violence, as well as the possibility of business being a force for good, protecting the environment.
“This is my first foray into speaking truth to power in this area of scholarship,” said Marcantonio, “I am excited to see how it is received.”
Those interested in attending the second day’s public event may register via Zoom, here.