Foreword

Summary

Tim Fort has written an important book for our times. At a point when the world seems more fragmented and torn apart by differences among fundamental beliefs, Fort has the audacity to suggest that we rethink our institutions, especially business. If we do so, he argues, we will find multiple opportunities for the creation of peace and the subsequent human flourishing that results. Fort has long suggested that we see business as a “mediating institution” in society, especially relevant to the way that we solve our conflicts with each other. Now, he goes further and shows how taking “ethical business” seriously can lead to dramatically different consequences for societies.

The first step in Fort's argument is to delineate what business can really be: an instrument of value creation and trade that affects many parts of society. We need to look beyond economics and profits to see the real impact of business on civil society. In fact all businesses create value for stakeholders, i.e., customers, suppliers, employees, financiers, community, and others in civil society. Business executives must take this broad role seriously to create “ethical businesses”. And, policy makers need to begin to see business as an instrument of peace and civility, rather than mere means to advance whatever policy agenda happens to be in power. Citizens have a role to play as well, and Fort's argument suggests that they need to see the possibility inherent in business as creating peace and prosperity rather than being based on individual self-interest and greed.