Transnational Corporations and Developing Public International Law

Abstract

In recent years the international community has been developing various international codes of conduct, many of which will contain rules governing the behavior of transnational corporations (TNCs). Most of these rules are being developed with little or no direct TNC participation. Professor Charney argues that because TNCs represent major, independent centers of influence, failure to include them in the codes of conduct negotiations may result in rules that do not accurately reflect the realities of TNC interests and power. If the international community later seeks to convert these rules into legal norms, TNC resistance will probably place costly strains on both the rules and the entire international legal system. Professor Charney concludes that the international community should permit TNCs and other interested power groups to participate directly in the development of international norms applicable to their interests. But he cautions that it would be unwise to give TNCs complete international legal personality because this, too, might place undue strains on the international legal system.

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