Embedding human rights within a multinational company: The case of the international energy company Royal Dutch Shell

The first chapter of this dissertation introduces the context, relevance and focus of this research. In sections 1.1 to 1.3, the importance of multinational corporations (MNCs) in globalisation, the universality of human rights and the impact of business on human rights issues are discussed. Section 1.4 deals with the accountability of business regarding human rights under international law. The link between business and human rights with the trend of Corporate Social Responsibility is discussed in section 1.5. The debate on global standards versus voluntary initiatives is presented in section 1.6. In section 1.7, the focus of this research is described by presenting the research objectives and questions. Finally, the structure of the thesis is explained in section 1.8.