ABSTRACT
For most of the twentieth century the nations of Central Europe and Russia were ruled by communist governments for whom the very idea of commercial activity, free enterprise, or business was anathema. Not only have these societies faced significant challenges since the demise of the communist empire, but so too has the very possibility and public conception of ethical business. This chapter offers an overview of the challenges to business ethics (understood chiefly as practical conduct but also as an academic discipline) during the transition process in Central Europe and Russia during the twenty-five years since the fall of communism. These challenges reveal critical issues for business conduct in these countries. The ethics of everyday business life remains in an evolution shaped by the ideological, cultural, and religious heritages of the former communist nations, as well as by the complex transformations these countries have experienced. Nonetheless, as the chapter concludes, business ethics in Central Europe and Russia is affected less by internal than external factors: the globalization of business and the European integration process. These elements may prove more powerful factors in shaping business ethics in these countries than any local vision about how business may be conducted ethically.
