Business Ethics and Sovereignty in Settler Colonial States

Abstract

The objective of this conceptual article is to make the case that Indigenous Cemānáhuacan nations’ sovereignty is valid throughout all of Cemānáhuac (the Americas), thus rendering settler colonial laws illegitimate and illegal. This in turn means that firms need to abide by Indigenous Cemānáhuacan nations’ laws. Theories relating to business, business ethics, compliance, and sustainability reflecting the assumptions of settler colonial sovereignty need to be reworked to take into account the ethical and legal reality of Indigenous Cemānáhuacan nations’ sovereignty. Without coercion-free recognition from Indigenous Cemānáhuacan nations, firms cannot accept any claim of government authority, ownership, or sovereignty made by settler colonial states. This article closes a gap in the literature between Indigenous sovereignty and business ethics in a settler colonial context.