The study examines ethical challenges faced by businesses operating in conflict-affected regions of Egypt following the uprising. An action research approach was employed, involving semi-structured interviews with key informants from Egyptian businesses operating in conflict zones. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis. The findings revealed that a significant proportion (60%) of respondents experienced direct ethical dilemmas related to corruption and bribery, while human rights abuses affected 45% of the business operations studied. Corporate social responsibility initiatives faced challenges due to resource constraints in conflict settings. Businesses operating in conflict zones face heightened ethical tensions that impact their operational integrity and compliance with international standards. Enhanced training programmes for employees on ethical conduct, greater collaboration between businesses and local NGOs to address human rights issues, and improved access to resources for implementing corporate social responsibility initiatives are recommended.
Farouk et al. (2011) studied this question.