When culture and the law clash: A primer on the extraterritorial implications of U.S. anti-discrimination rules and regulations

The rapid globalization of U.S. business has generated many questions about the extraterritorial implications of U.S. anti-discrimination rules and regulations. This paper provides an introduction to the relevant statutes and related case law that govern the extraterritorial responsibilities of U.S. companies with interests in foreign firms. Particular attention is paid to the extraterritorial requirements of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, including important amendments to the Act added when Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1991. This paper also describes the defenses U.S. firms can use to insulate themselves from the extraterritorial requirements of these rules and regulations as well as issues and problems created when the cultural norms and customs of foreign countries clash with U.S. law. Suggestions are then made about how U.S. firms can meaningfully comply with the extraterritorial requirements of U.S. anti-discrimination rules and regulations. Finally, the paper examines legal and organizational issues that require further clarification and interpretation.     

The Impact of Narratives on Attitudes toward Muslim Immigrants in the U.S.

ABSTRACT

This study examined the impact of narratives on attitudes toward Muslim immigrants in the U.S. Based on a 2 (content: acceptance vs. rejection) × 2 (narrator: Muslim vs. American) plus control condition design, 479 participants read one of five messages. More contact and positive attribution toward Muslim immigrants was associated less threat and exclusion. The American narrator telling a rejection narrative was the most disliked and received little empathy. Overall, narratives describing Muslim immigrants’ experience of rejection were more impactful on participant intention to engage in pro-social behaviours. This study discussed the implications of narratives in bias reduction efforts.     

Managerial characteristics, operational observations, and small business performance: A comparison of US and Mexican ventures

To contribute to our cross-cultural understanding of small business ventures, we investigate manager reports of small business effectiveness in the United States and Mexico. We examine the influence of organizational policies, managerial characteristics, and managerial process observations on reports of business effectiveness. Data were gathered from ventures in both countries, and results showed differences in interpersonal processes, business structure, and gender. Implications for future research are given.     

Research on attitude change in U.S. students who participate in foreign study experiences: Past findings and suggestions for future research

Little research has been conducted on attitude change in U.S. students who participate in foreign study experiences. This is especially disconcerting given the number of programs available and participants involved. This research review includes five studies utilizing one-time questioning of program participants and 15 articles employing analysis of pre- and postsojourn questionnaires. Unfortunately, attitude change is seldom verified empirically in these works. Possible explanations include loosely structured experimental designs, infrequent use of follow-up studies, the lack of an established theoretical base, and perhaps most importantly, the lack of a consensus concerning what to measure. Suggestions for future research include: the study of specific variables thought to facilitate attitude change, analysis of subgroups of students similar on a particular characteristic or ability, and measurement of behavioral competencies.