You are representing India in an international bidding for oil exploration in a country. Other, richer countries are also bidding for the project. You are sure that your bid of exploration is better as well as cheaper than that of others, and that you will definitely win the bid. A day before the auction, you come to know that other countries are employing every means, including bribing the authorities for being successful. Some of the officials of the home country have also contacted you and made some demands in exchange for assurance of India winning the bid. You are aware of the criticality of this bid in terms of domestic economic and strategic implications. Based on above information, answer the following questions. (a) Specify the ethical dilemma(s) that you face in this situation. (b) Do ethical concerns really matter in international transactions or are they secondary to domestic interests? (c) What will be your course of action in the above situation? Justify with merits and demerits.

(a) Ethical dilemma is between the personal values, domestic interest & international interest. The Indian officials itself

are demanding bribe for giving the bid to India. It is highly unethical. If I deny giving bribe. It's high chance that I loss the bid which can have negative implications on the economy of my nation.

Utilitarianism can't be served if I insist on personal values. If I am ready to compromise my personal integrity & give bribe, my countrymen will be at benefit. But such an act is highly unethical & unpatriotic. This is the ethical dilemma faced here.

(b) Ethical concerns really matters in international scenario especially to an Indian.

India has preached the concept of Vasudhaiva Kudumbakam (the whole world is one family). We have also taught the Panchsheel, the

five principles giving respect to other nations.

India is a cosmopolitan nation & a wellwisher of the world who had revealed the legacy of Yoga, ayurveda etc... without any intellectual property rights claim. This attitude is also reflected in tackling climate change.

So ethical concerns really matters in international interests also. It is in line with domestic interests, not above or below. We never thought to gain by harming others. India as a nation do not support Hedonism, but do support utilitarianism.

(c) I will not give bribe to the officers to get the bid. It's both illegal & unethical act to do it. I always believe in the morality of

the right things done. Falseful attainment of bid by giving bribe can be justified by normative ethics consequentialism but not in deontological ethics / Nishkam karma.

Merits

• Respect the values of integrity & probity
• Accountability is upheld.
• Ultimate success is with the truth

Demerits

• Country can face economic challenges
• Countrymen suffer more on the cost of my ethical values.
• Immediate success is transferred to the false actions.