Business and commercial agreements

Meherun Nesa and Molly M. Melin

Chapter 7 in Handbook on the Politics of International Agreements, 2026, pp 108-123 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Business and commercial agreements, including trade and investment treaties, are increasingly vital in influencing peace and conflict, expanding beyond state-centric institutions to include the private sector and complex Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Agreements like the UN Global Compact (UNGC), EITI, and the Kimberley Process promote peace by fostering economic interdependence, reducing the root causes of conflict (poverty/inequality), and enhancing corporate responsibility. Although often voluntary and lacking strong enforcement, they provide frameworks for ethical practice. We provide an overview of initial evidence suggesting that states with more firms voluntarily engaging in the UNGC and peacebuilding activities are less likely to experience violence. These agreements act as a crucial mechanism to guide firms in responsible operations, proving to be more than just reputational tools and offering a foundation for collective private sector contributions to global stability.

Keywords: Peacebuilding; Voluntary Agreements; Conflict Prevention; UN Global Compact; UNGC; Economic Interdependence; Private Sector (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035318582
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