THE APARTHEID CRISIS: How We Can Do Justice in a Land of Violence

by Oliver F. Williams ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 3, 1986

An ethical guide, instructing businesses in how to effect social change in South Africa. Williams (Business/Notre Dame), a Catholic priest who has lectured and consulted widely in corporate ethics, falls back basically on the Sullivan Principles. By 1985, 128 US companies (out of 280 doing business there) had agreed to follow the code. In principle, they all agreed to: 1) implement non-segregation in all their eating, comfort, and work facilities; 2) support equal and fair employment practices; 3) support equal pay for equal work; 4) support training in skilled positions for blacks; 5) increase the numbers of blacks in management positions; and 6) work toward bettering the quality of life outside the workplace. In addition, the signatory companies agreed to support the ending of all apartheid laws. Williams says the official Catholic policy in matters of this sort centers around the principle of ""proportionality""--i.e., if proportionately good consequences are likely to occur via osmosis of the morality of business people in an evil community, then businesses are following the biblical injunction to ""realize justice in the world."" Thoughtful restatement of one anti-apartheid policy, but nothing new.

Pub Date: Sept. 3, 1986

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Harper & Row

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1986

Categories: NONFICTION