Policy as violence – a decolonial feminist critique of the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive

In recent years, transnational corporations (TNCs) are facing increasing criticism, as part of the understanding that systematic oppressions, extractivism, wars and conflicts around the world are interconnected with their interests. The European Union (EU) has introduced a policy–legislation intended to compel such corporations to fulfil human rights and environmental standards. This paper offers a novel critique of this legislation, drawing on decolonial feminist theory, political economy insights, discourse analysis and a specific analytical framework. The findings suggest that the EU’s Directive falls significantly short of addressing the needs of people/planet. This conclusion is then interpreted from three perspectives. The first sees a victory despite its serious limitations – something is better than nothing. The second sees a pretence – this something is actually nothing. The third sees a devolution – this something good is actually something bad. It is an exercise of strategic ignorance, ‘epistemic smothering’ and ‘ethics washing’, especially regarding the plight of racialized and gendered people in the Global South. It will benefit TNCs, EU and its member states, thereby helping to reproduce the ongoing interconnection between epistemic and material violence against people/planet. The paper ends with suggestions for epistemic and political resistances in light of the three perspectives.