Gandhi's Prophecy: Corporate Violence and a Mindful Law for Bhopal

Over thirty years have passed since the Bhopal chemical disaster began, and in that time scholars of corporate social responsibility (CSR) have discussed and debated several frameworks for improving corporate response to social and environmental problems. However, CSR discourse rarely delves into the fundamental architecture of legal thought that often buttresses corporate dominance in the global economy. Moreover, CSR discourse does little to challenge the ontological and epistemological assumptions that form the foundation for modern economics and the role of corporations in the world. I explore methods of transforming CSR by employing the thought of Mohandas Gandhi. I pay particular attention to Gandhi’s critique of industrialization and principle of swadeshi (self-sufficiency) to address the tension between multinational corporations and local communities worldwide. Gandhi’s principle of swadeshi especially is salient in light of Bhopal, where local survivors have struggled to raise awareness of the persistent degradation of their environment. I discuss the current state of CSR, Bhopal’s ongoing relevance to modern industrialization, and a potential future for CSR that incorporates swadeshi for local populations.