Stakeholder approaches to human rights and development in the commercial context

Metzger, Adam (2022). Stakeholder approaches to human rights and development in the commercial context. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

Human rights, community development, and commercial development have the potential to be mutually reinforcing at the international, state, and local levels. Stakeholders’ approaches to human rights in commercial development contexts are key to unlocking this potential. This thesis analyses commercial energy projects in Bangladesh, Kenya, and Canada, in order to discover how relationships between stakeholders may affect a state’s ability to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights obligations. The analysis pays special attention to stakeholders that are most likely to have their rights violated (indigenous and local communities), and stakeholders that tend to abuse human rights in the name of commercial development (corporate developers and the state). Drawing from the case studies, this thesis proposes a tripartite taxonomy of approaches to human rights and development in commercial contexts. This taxonomy describes stakeholder dispositions and actions that have the potential to lead to compatible or conflicting relationships. The third approach within the taxonomy, a Development Based Approach to Human Rights, is a new contribution to the field, proposing human rights fulfillment as a primary objective for all stakeholders in commercial development projects. This thesis comes to the conclusion that compatible stakeholder relations that utilise this approach in commercial contexts, tend to bring about the respect, protection, and fulfillment of human rights alongside community and commercial development.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):