Towards a system of global ethics in international business: a Rawlsian manifesto

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to use Rawls's principles of justice to develop a system of global ethics that can be used to govern international business practices. Design/methodology/approach – A critical synopsis of Rawls's political philosophy is provided, his application in prior business ethics literature is reviewed, and a Rawlsian‐inflected ethics for conducting international business practices is outlined. Findings – This paper concludes that Rawls's philosophical insights have significant relevance for the conduct of contemporary international business; that through critical engagement of Rawls's ideas there emerges the potential for international business to be predicated on social justice values. Originality/value – This paper offers the first substantive attempt to elucidate the conditions under which international business is rendered to be consistent with Rawls's principles of justice.