short term, businesses which think little about anything but profits,
have little incentive to think beyond the short term. This short term
thinking adds of course to the moral irresponsibility of much of the
business community around the world, who in planning and evalu-
ating success and failure think little about a foreseeable future, and
much less about the next generation or the ones to come. In the long
run, future generations will tragically be confronted with toxic waste,
ruined water supplies, air pollution, vanishing animal species and
the like. This is a prime example of inter-generational inequity and
irresponsibility.
- ‘Savage’ Capitalism
Most of us have heard the expression ‘savage capitalism’. Part of
what ‘savage’ capitalism denotes is capitalist activity that roams the
world looking for quick profits, in the form of cheap labour and nat-
ural resources, or investment opportunities, along with few govern-
ment laws and regulations, and is not tied to, or controlled by, local
or national communities and loyalties. ‘Savage capitalism’ sees itself
as having few or no civic responsibilities. It is in a given place only to
make profits and leave. One of the things that makes this economic
behaviour ‘savage’ is that it is the opposite of truly human behaviour,
which takes place in, and through, responsible relationships.
I can see these global dynamics at work in Hartford, Connecticut
where I live. Until the last decade or two, our city was at the centre of
the United States’ insurance industry. As that industry has been
transformed by global capitalism, thus making Hartford just one part
of global insurance strategies, the local insurance companies have
become, as long-time citizens of Hartford observe, much less engaged
in the community, much less interested in Hartford itself, and thus
much less helpful to the wider community. Since the decisions are
made elsewhere, and since time lines are so short, there is little incen-
tive for the insurance companies to be responsive to, or care about,
the local community.
This situation is of course multiplied many times over in places in
the world where people are economically more vulnerable, and have
little or no political power to exert. It is clear that businesses in gen-
eral will not self-regulate. The only thing likely to change this situa-
tion and encourage responsible business behaviour is political pres-
sure as well as national and international regulation. Popular
movements like labour movements and environmental movements
can also help by adding to political awareness and pressure.^6
230 Responsible Leadership : Global Perspectives