The moral responsibility for the harms of the global chain of production: a case study of the Bangladeshi ready-made garment industry

Khan, Jasim Uddin (2025). The moral responsibility for the harms of the global chain of production: a case study of the Bangladeshi ready-made garment industry. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

This thesis examines "a social structural conception of responsibility" for the harms associated with global garment production. The Rana Plaza incident and the subsequent policy reforms highlighted that the production of harms related to the garment industry in Bangladesh is structural — deeply linked to the imperatives of the broader political economy. That is to say, the harms of global garment production can be attributed to unintentional and indirect effects of economic globalisation. It is, therefore, no surprise that the prevailing notion of liberal responsibility, centring around intentional wrongdoing, proves inadequate in addressing such unintended social harm. This inadequacy leads not merely to the perpetuation of profound imbalances of power that underlie harm but also indifference or passivity to harm.

In order to transform indifference into [ir]responsibility, it is therefore necessary to reevaluate our understanding of responsibility. However, the widespread acceptance of fundamental principles of the individual model of responsibility prevents a redefined version of responsibility from gaining traction. Nevertheless, drawing from social harm literature, the thesis introduces a social perspective of responsibility, operating on the premise that if harm can be anticipated and there is a possibility for human intervention to modify underlying conditions, as well as identifiable social subgroups with the capacity to effect change, then we bear responsibility for social harm.

This research aims to further develop this social harm responsibility model through empirical analysis. The study conducted qualitative interviews with 47 individuals from three key stakeholder groups: employers, workers, and policymakers in the Bangladeshi ready-made garment (RMG) industry. Thematic data analysis was conducted using a theoretical framework designed for the social harm responsibility model.

The empirical evidence illustrates the intertwining presence of power, inequality, and moral indifference. The material and symbolic power wielded by the global north shifts the harms of commodity production to the manufacturing sites of the Bangladeshi RMG industry. This flow of harm and accumulation hinges partly on the production of moral indifference. The unbounded, nonviolent, and rational practices within the production network undermine the innate personal moral drive to alleviate the suffering of the victims, thus contributing to the production of moral indifference.

This structural account made harm foreseeable. It also offers insights into the potential for human intervention — by reallocating material resources, integrating local cultural values, and promoting moral assemblage among various stakeholders through thick personal relationships. By tracing the money flow along the chain, we can easily discern the differing levels of accountability among different moral groups, starting with workers at the base, employers next, and brands at the top. The concept of the harm model of responsibility is crucial for the social harm approach to progress as a coherent academic discipline. Policymakers focused on harm reduction can benefit from considering this responsibility doctrine when addressing the impacts of unintended and socially mediated causes.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):