Your company is bidding against another company to sell multi-billion dollar industrial equipment to the country of Brazil. The other company is a state-owned enterprise that is owned by a country run by a ruthless dictator. This dictator regularly mutilates and tortures citizens who disagree with his policies. This dictator's economy is struggling and the dictator really needs the cash flow from this proposed sale to prop up his economy.
a. Would it be ethical for your company to bribe Brazilian officials if, by doing so, you help topple this dictator from power?
b. Would it be ethical for your company to bribe Brazilian officials if you have learned that this competing state-owned company has offered bribes to these officials?