Global Corporations In Global Governance

This book offers a concise and accessible overview and analysis of the place of large multinational and regional corporations in the political economy of global governance.May argues that not only do corporations have an impact on the institutions of global governance, but they must be understood as a multifaceted institution of global governance in their own right, controlling and shaping significant aspects of the global political economy. Topics include: What are global corporations? Corporations and global governance The legal personality of the corporation Corporations and power Corporations and tax The future role of corporations in a post crisis global system Highlighting the central role of corporations in the generation and reproduction of norms in global governance, this work shows that corporations’ practices and relations are themselves both subjects, and sources of, global governance. It offers an enhanced understanding of the complex of issues that pattern the corporate global governance in the contemporary political economy and will be of interest to students in areas including IPE, global governance and international organizations.

The Role of Business in Global Governance offers an empirically rich analysis of the new political role of corporations in the co-performance of governance functions beyond the state. Within comparative case studies, potential explanations of the political role of transnational corporations are systematically tested.

Over the past two decades, the role of business in global governance has become increasingly topical. Transnational business associations are progressively more visible in international policy debates and in intergovernmental institutions, and there is a heightened attention given to global policy-making in national and international business communities. This text examines and explains the multiple modes of engagement between business and global governance; it presents a variety of theoretical approaches which can be used to analyse them, along with empirical illustrations. Featuring a range of leading US and European scholars, it is divided into three parts that summarize different modes of engagement. Each section is illustrated by two or three studies that represent a distinct theoretical take on the issue with empirical illustrations. The book examines: Business as master and purpose of global governance Business as subject and opponent to global governance Business as partner and facilitator of global governance This book will be of interest to students and scholars of Business Studies, International Relations, International Politics and International Political Economy, as well as for practitioners – in the public and private sector.

"Over the past 20 years, the international community has shown an increased desire to intervene to re-build societies emerging from war. From East Timor to Bosnia; from Azerbaijan to Mozambique, UN agencies and bilateral donors have stepped in to create stable durable societies in the aftermath of conflict. During the same period, there has also been increased attention paid to the developing role on the world stage of multinational companies. Statistics suggesting that 51 of the world's largest economies are corporations, and the acceleration of so-called "globalisation" has led to a considerable focus on how private sector organisations fit into established processes of global governance. This book looks at the impact multinational companies have in post-conflict environments, the role they have and how they are governed. Drawing on detailed fieldwork in three post-conflict countries-- Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Rwanda--Peter Davis considers in each case the impacts that international companies have had on the reconstruction programme in each location, and what governance processes are used by companies and by state agencies to manage these impacts. Based on this evidence, this book then draws hypotheses about how the international corporate sector might better be integrated into post-conflict efforts, and considers the implications of this both for how companies manage themselves, and for how the development community's relationship with the private sector"--Provided by publisher.

This book brings attention to the growing complexity of managing multinational firms in light of the rise to significant power of non-governmental organizations such as Amnesty International and the anti-WTO coalition. It also considers the renewed public doubts about MNE legitimacy as the free-market model comes under greater criticism, especially in emerging markets. The book adds very useful value in illuminating situations in which companies are facing increased impact of pressure groups as well as governments in their international business. The menu of papers really gives the reader some food for thought, and specifically for thinking about how more acceptable governance of MNEs can be pursued in the 21st century. Robert Grosse, The Garvin School of International Management, US In recent years a number of excellent books have been published on the failure of corporate governance. However, nothing compares with Sushil Vachani s Transformations in Global Governance, a gripping account of global corporate governance provided by recognized IB scholars. Subhash C. Jain, University of Connecticut, US An excellent book for scholars, business leaders, and policymakers that makes good on its title Transformations in Global Governance. Sushil Vachani and the book s contributors identify how the governance structures of organizations are being transformed not just shifted or adjusted. NGOs, the WTO, multilateral institutions, multinationals, host governments and many other stakeholders have new roles and rules that are redefining how one governs a successful and socially responsible global enterprise. A must read for those intending to lead their organization's change efforts in our global economy. Stephen A. Stumpf, Villanova University, US and co-editor of Handbook on Responsible Leadership and Governance in Global Business The world of multinational enterprises is changing dramatically. Their complex and dynamic international context presents them with special challenges threatening their survival on one hand, and presenting them with unprecedented opportunities on the other. In this volume, international experts analyze different aspects of the transformations in global governance: ideological variations, trade governance, competition policy and the rise of civil society. They discuss the implications for multinational government relations, multinationals self-governance, relations with NGOs and issues of competitiveness. The book focuses on two forces integral to the process of globalization. The first is the evolution of inter-governmental organizations, such as the World Trade Organization, and various agreements pertaining to trade, environment, labor, competition and investment. The other equally important factor is the rise of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which have a significant impact on the strategies of multinational enterprises, governments and inter-governmental organizations. The contributors explore these forces in chapters detailing shifts in governance and their implications for multinationals, governments and society in general. This cohesive examination of an under-analyzed area will appeal to students and scholars of international business, and other researchers in management schools, think tanks, management consulting companies, government agencies, inter-governmental organizations, and NGOs.

We have long been told that corporations rule the world, their interests seemingly taking precedence over states and their citizens. Yet, while states, civil society, and international organizations are well drawn in terms of their institutions, ideologies, and functions, the world's global corporations are often more simply sketched as mechanisms of profit maximization. In this book, John Mikler re-casts global corporations as political actors with complex identities and strategies. Debunking the idea of global corporations as exclusively profit-driven entities, he shows how they seek not only to drive or modify the agendas of states but to govern in their own right. He also explains why we need to re-territorialize global corporations as political actors that reflect and project the political power of the states and regions from which they hail. We know the global corporations' names, we know where they are headquartered, and we know where they invest and operate. Economic processes are increasingly produced by the control they possess, the relationships they have, the leverage they employ, the strategic decisions they make, and the discourses they create to enhance acceptance of their interests. This book represents a call to study how they do so, rather than making assumptions based on theoretical abstractions.

This is an exploration of the diverse ways that corporations affect the practices and structures of the global political economy. The text addresses fundamental questions such as: How can the corporation be most usefully conceptualized within the field of IPE?

The Handbook of Global Companies brings together original research addressing the latest theories and empirical analysis surrounding the role of global companies in local, national, and international governance. Offers new insights into the role of global companies in relation to policy and governance at local, national, and international levels Brings together newly-commissioned research by a global team of established and up-and-coming scholars from the fields of international relations, political science, public policy, and beyond Considers the environmental and societal responsibilities of global corporations. Covers topics including the spatial locations of global companies; debate about the power they wield and their role as catalysts in new forms of governance; and the ways in which global companies share authority with the state and international organizations to drive policy processes Speculates on the broader potential and limitations of global governance

This authoritative book examines the power of multinational corporations (MNCs) to exert influence in global politics. Focusing on the actions and motivations of MNCs, it explores how they attempt to shape the political issues that affect them.