Exploring Public Support for Extraterritorial Jurisdiction over Natural Resource Extraction: Survey Insights from the United States
Publisher: Resources Policy
Author(s): Martijn C. Vlaskamp
Date: 2024
Topics: Conflict Causes, Extractive Resources, Governance
Countries: United States
This paper investigates public support for national policies that hold companies accountable for their actions abroad, focusing on the extraction of natural resources. A survey conducted in the United States with 660 respondents reveals a strong public endorsement for the idea that U.S. companies should be regulated domestically for their overseas activities, especially concerning conflict minerals. The study found that support for such extraterritorial jurisdiction policies correlates more strongly with broader foreign policy beliefs than with political ideology. Individuals with a cosmopolitan outlook and less isolationist tendencies are more likely to support these policies. Overall, the results highlight significant public backing across partisan lines for policies promoting domestic accountability of companies for their international actions, underlining the influence of general views on international affairs in shaping public opinion on extraterritorial jurisdiction concerning the conditions under which natural resources are extracted abroad.