Papers presented by Paul Duguid since 2019
2025 Atlanta, Georgia
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Paul Duguid, University of California, Berkeley
2025 Atlanta, Georgia
"Multinationals and Whitewashing: An Historical Perspective"
Paul Duguid, University of California, Berkeley
Teresa da Silva Lopes, University of York
Abstract:
This study examines the historical evolution of whitewashing in business, analysing how corporations have manipulated their public image to obscure unethical practices. It traces the concept of whitewashing from its early associations with purity and safety to its modern function in corporate reputation management. Focusing on the first half of the twentieth century, it analyses the case study of Standard Oil and related companies. The study argues that while whitewashing may serve as a short-term tactic to deflect scrutiny, history demonstrates that it often backfires over time. Companies engaging persistently on whitewashing strategies have been forced to develop alternative and more sophisticated whitewashing strategies. In the medium to long term, such approaches have led to public distrust, regulatory intervention, and industry shifts. The findings highlight the need for genuine accountability over symbolic gestures, reinforcing the intricate relationship between corporate power and ethical responsibility.
Keywords:
globalization
multinationals
stakeholders
supply chain