Question

How are progressive interests attempting to use the Alien Tort Claims Act to control multinationals?

Answer 1

The Alien Tort Claims Act was intended to prevent pirates embarking on the U.S coast or it was used to act as a forum for ambassadors who had undergone assault. However, the act was hardly used until recently. It is now being used for human rights violations and degrading the environment outside the U.S. The law is a powerful and important tool in indigenous rights advocacy and empowerment of multinational organizations. Progressive interest groups attempt to use the Alien Tort Claims Act against multinational organizations as an immediate solution for their responsibilities towards the society and the environment. The progressive interest groups attempt to use ATCA against transnational or multinational corporations for any violation of the international laws in the countries specifically outside United States where the company operates. To summarize, ATCA is used as a powerful tool to enhance the ethical and social responsibilities (CSR) of the multinational companies. It is an act that is used by interest groups to sue against companies for allegedly violating the international laws which is present in the countries in which they operate. Since the lawsuits poses great perils for the multinational companies, they are now insisting for regulations and laws compliance which makes the countries a better nation.