Abstract
This dissertation asks to what extent, if at all, large global corporations are addressing modern slavery in their complex supply chains. Many companies publicly report that they are addressing human rights topics such as modern slavery in their complex supply chains using traceability, transparency and accountability frameworks and tools, public communications, stakeholder dialogue, auditing, etc. The researcher explored narratives in academic, governmental, corporate, and non-governmental organization reports, media publications, websites, and videos to determine whether the corporations are addressing modern slavery in complex supply chains. Using systematic review methods and tools, the researcher also analyzed medical and engineering profession ethical codes of practices for comparative purposes. When these codes are breached, the individual and institution are held responsible and in contrast, when legal infractions and ethical breaches occur as it relates to modern slavery, corporations are rarely held responsible. Occasionally an article surfaces in the media but is often usurped by the next day’s news. It reveals that as abhorrent as modern slavery is and the conditions are for 28 million individuals, that there is broader acceptance for prioritizing the acquisition of the products and services that enable this ongoing practice. Finally, this narrative discourse examines publicly available research to discover whether social change frameworks can be identified to support corporate social responsibility professionals and social compliance auditors and presents a new Modern Slavery Model of Respect for consideration.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Forced labor —International business enterprises; Social responsibility of business; Business logistics
Date of Award
2024
School Affiliation
Graduate School of Education and Psychology
Department/Program
Education
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctorate
Faculty Advisor
Martine Jago
Recommended Citation
Nixon, Bonnie, "A narrative discourse on large global corporations and modern slavery in complex supply chains" (2024). Theses and Dissertations. 1556.
https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/etd/1556