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*CALL FOR PAPERS*

*SPECIAL ISSUE OF*

*JOURNAL OF WORLD BUSINESS***

* *

* *

*Back to the Great Illusion?*

*Global Governance and International Nonmarket Strategies*

*for the 21st Century*

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** **

Jonathan Doh****

Villanova School of Business****

Villanova University****

[log in to unmask]**

** **

Steve McGuire****

School of Management & Business****

Aberystwyth University****

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** **

Toshiya Ozaki (corresponding contact)****

College of Business, Rikkyo University****

Tokyo, Japan 171-8501****

Tel: +81-3-3985-4077****

Email: [log in to unmask]****

** **

* *

*The Journal of World Business* is soliciting papers to contribute to a
special issue on the state of global governance and international nonmarket
strategy in the 21st century. This special issue is focused on exploring
the antecedents, processes and outcomes of the interaction between global
governance systems and institutions and the international nonmarket
strategies of multinational enterprises (MNEs).****

http://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-world-business/call-for-papers/back-to-the-great-illusion/

** **

BACKGROUND****

The global political economy is increasingly integrated and interdependent.
In his book, *The GreatIllusion* (1910), Norman Angell advanced the view
that because of the increasing global interdependencies that linked nation
states together in the first part of the 20th century, countries would
hesitate before engaging in conflicts because they would be self-
destructive. The two World Wars proved Angell wrong, and revealed one
critical condition that was missing in his account: stable and sustainable
economic interdependence requires well designed and well founded
institutions on which cross-border commercial activities may flourish. The
business community, especially MNEs in the United States and Europe, played
an important role in helping policy makers on both sides of the Atlantic to
design and develop the postwar international economic system. It is
significant to note that these firms assumed the role not simply because of
their altruism or social responsibility, but because of their self-interest
in sustained international growth, facilitated by the Bretton Woods
inspired global governance system. Similarly, the more recent rise of
emerging markets MNEs owes much of their international success to the
international regulatory system that catalyzed market activity both within
and between home country economies.****

Global business environments, and especially institutional arrangements to
govern and sustain global trade and commerce, increasingly show strains and
fissures. As Kobrin (2009) has argued, we may be entering a new uncharted
phase of opportunities and challenges characterized by new types of
participants (governments, firms, nongovernmental organizations) who have
more diverse and unaligned interests, purposes and preferences than in
previous eras.  This complex environment is also characterized by more
difficult and vexing issues – climate change, cyber-terrorism, and
financial dependencies and volatility, to name a few – that may undermine
traditional forms of global governance and render cooperation more
difficult. The advancement of information and communication technology
(ICT), which lowers barriers and allows firms and individuals to equip
themselves with information and intelligence, exacerbates these challenges,
but also offers new opportunities for addressing them.****

The international business field has long been concerned with the structure
and nature of business-government relations in the global environment and
the institutional architecture that governs firm-state relations.  In the
area of MNE-government interactions, the seminal work of Vernon
(1971<https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?shva=1#1394c08063f2900a__ENREF_99>
), Fagre and Wells
(1982<https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?shva=1#1394c08063f2900a__ENREF_29>
), and Kobrin (1987<https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?shva=1#1394c08063f2900a__ENREF_57>
) explored the delicate interactions among states and firms as they
navigated an increasingly integrated global economy.   More recent
literature has addressed how governments shape the varying institutional
contexts – both national and supranational (Henisz, 2002) – that firms
encounter, as well as how firms themselves are able to adapt and adjust –
and influence – the emerging institutional environments (Boddewyn & Brewer,
1994; Kostova & Roth, 2002).  With the proliferation of additional actors
in global business-government interactions, international business scholars
have incorporated international institutions (IMF, World Bank, WTO) as
formal participants in the traditional business-government bargaining model
(Prakash, 2002; Ramaurti, 2001). Most recently, the emerging presence of
civil society and nongovernmental institutions as important players in
these increasingly complex and multifaceted
business-government-institutions-nongovernmental relationships has drawn
the attention of IB scholars who seek to broaden and expand the scope of
the global business system in which MNEs operate (Boddewyn & Doh, 2010;
Kobrin, 1998b; Teegen, Doh & Vachani, 2004; Lucea, 2009).****

Dramatic changes in global governance systems and processes and the
dissolution of traditional global alliances are reshaping and reformulating
the system of global governance that has dominated the post-war period. For
example, the decades-long global coalition of countries and firms in
support of increasingly liberalized trade has apparently fractured, climate
change negotiations have reached an impasse, and there is little consensus
as to how best to manage and regulate the increasingly complex and
interlinked global financial system.  Given this reality, it is appropriate
to revisit some of the assumptions and approaches that have prevailed in
the treatment of global governance systems and the actors that shape and
are shaped by it.  Further, it is important and timely to explore the
current state of governance for global business, the sustainability of its
underlying institutions, and alternative governance arrangements that may
be emerging from private and nongovernmental actors.  In addition to these
macro-level considerations, the special issue will focus on the nonmarket
strategies (Baron, 1997) of firms responding to these changing conditions,
and how MNES are themselves influencing the systems that are emerging.
Finally, just as the governance system for global business may be
undergoing a fundamental shift, studies of international business have come
a long way in their efforts to integrate various disciplines and approaches
in examining these governance systems and understanding consequent firm
nonmarket strategies. We believe the time is ripe to look back and reflect
on these achievements, but also to call attention to unanswered questions.**
**

Kobrin (1977, 1978, 1987, 1998a, 1998b, 2004, and 2009) is one of the key
contributors to our understanding of the interactions between politics,
economics and international business.  He has sought to account for the
impact of political distance/difference between countries on international
business and examined different levels and types of political risk and how
risk contributes to differing firm strategies and structures (Kobrin, 1977,
and 1978).   More recently, Kobrin has turned his attention to changes in
global governance and nonmarket activity, and has called attention to the
potential fracturing of the global governance systems and the emergence of
alternative actors and approaches (1998a, 1998b, 2004, and 2009).  Building
on this work, this issue will focus on the complex interactions of economic
liberalization, the role and responsibilities of international
institutions, and global firm strategy. In particular, we encourage papers
that examine how the changing role of international institutions like the
IMF, World Bank and WTO is influencing firms’ nonmarket strategies.  We
also encourage submissions that explore the emergence of substitute
institutional arrangements such as private regulations, codes and other
forms of “soft” regulation, and how these complementary forms of global
governance are influencing how firms develop and advance their social and
political strategies.  In addition to submissions that explore how Western
MNEs are responding to this new global governance architecture, we also
encourage submissions that explore the evolution of emerging market firms
as corporate actors at the international level, especially as they
increasingly interact with foreign governments, global institutions, and
private regulation.****

** **

POTENTIAL TOPICS****

We seek conceptual, theoretical, empirical and review papers that address
this broad topic. While the focus of the special issue is intentionally
broad and integrative, below are potential topics and questions that could
be relevant to the call, although they are certainly not exhaustive.****

** **

**l  **How has the nature, influence and effectiveness of global governance
systems evolved in the post-World War Two period?  What does this mean for
the study of IB generally, and MNE nonmarket strategies in particular?****

**l  **Does the changing and evolving nature of global governance
mechanisms call for the development of a theory of transnational corporate
political and/or social activity?  If so, what theory or theories could
inform this phenomenon?****

**l  **What is the relationship between levels of governance (regional,
multilateral) and nonmarket (political and social) strategy?****

**l  **What is the impact on MNE nonmarket strategy of global private
regulation and codes of conduct such as the UN Global Compact, Global
Reporting Initiative, ISO 1400 and 2100?  Are these new forms of
regulations substitutes or complements to traditional international law and
regulation?****

**l  **How has the emergence of individual nongovernmental organizations
(e.g. Greenpeace, WWF, Amnesty; Oxfam) and collectives of NGOs and
associations of NGOs and firms influenced how firms direct their nonmarket
strategies?  Are firms refocusing their energies on these new actors and
downplaying traditional global institutions?****

**l  **How do the nonmarket (political and social) strategies of emerging
market firms, especially those directed at supranational institutions,
compare to those of firms from developed countries?****

**l  **How can corporate interests be aligned across national boundaries,
societies and cultures such as they continue to support global institutions
(IMF, World Bank, WTO and so on) while also recognizing the changing nature
of global governance?****

** **

PROCESS AND TIMING****

Papers that respond to this call should be forwarded to
[log in to unmask]****

by September 1, 2013.  Inquiries about the special issue may be made to any
of the special issue co-editors listed above.  All submissions should
follow the JWB author and style requirements which are available at
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/620401/authorinstructions
****

Submissions will be double blind reviewed according to JWB procedures.
Below is a rough timeline for consideration of papers and publication of
the special issue.  We may organize a mini-conference in fall/winter 2013
at which authors whose papers are invited for a revision and resubmission
will be invited to present them and receive further feedback from the
editors and other authors.****

** **

September, 2012: Call for paper circulated****

September 1, 2013: Submission due to co-editors at email address above****

Fall 2013: First Round Decisions****

Fall/Winter 2013: Mini-conference (proposed)****

March 1, 2014: Revisions due****

June 1, 2014: Second round decisions****

September 1, 2014: Third round decisions/Final papers due and decision
letter issued****

2014/2015: Special issue published****

** **

** **

REFERENCES****

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Angell, N.  (1910). The great illusion: A study of the relation of military
power in nations to their economic and social advantage.  New York/London:
Putnam.****

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Baron, D.P. (1997). Integrated strategy, trade policy, and global
competition. *California Management Review*  *39*: 145-169.****

** **

Boddewyn J., & Doh, J. (2011). Global strategy and the collaboration of
MNEs, NGOs, and governments for the provisioning of collective goods in
emerging markets. *Global Strategy Journal,**1*: 345-361****

** **

Boddewyn, J.J., & Brewer, T.L. (1994). International Business Political
Behavior: New Theoretical Directions. *Academy of Management Review,* *19*:
119-143****

** **

Fagre, N., & Wells, L.T. (1982). Bargaining power of multinationals and
host governments.*Journal of International Business Studies,* *13*: 9-23****

** **

Henisz, W.J. (2000). The institutional environment for multinational
investment. *Journal of Law Economics & Organization,* *16*: 334-364****

** **

Kobrin, S. J. (1978). When does political instability result in increased
investment *risk**?* *The Columbia Journal of World Business*, *14*: 113-122
****

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Kobrin, S.J. (1979). Political risk : A review and reconsideration. *Journal
of International Business Studies*, *10*: 67-80. ****

** **

Kobrin, S.J. (1987). Testing the bargaining hypothesis in the manufacturing
sector in developing countries. *International Organization **41*: 609-638.*
***

** **

Kobrin, S.J. (1998a). Back to the future: Neomedievalism and the postmodern
digital world economy.  *Journal of International Affairs*, *51*: 361–86.***
*

** **

Kobrin, S J. (1998b).  The MAI and the clash of globalizations. *Foreign
Policy*, Fall, 97-109.****

** **

Kobrin, S.J. (2004).  Safe harbours are hard to find: the Trans-Atlantic
data privacy dispute, territorial jurisdiction and global governance.  *Review
of International Studies,* *30*: 111-131.****

** **

Kobrin, S J.  (2009). *Private political authority and public
responsibility: transnational politics, transnational firms and human rights
**,* *Business Ethics Quarterly,**19*: 349-374.****

** **

Kostova, T., & Roth, K. (2002). Adoption of an organizational practice by
subsidiaries of multinational corporations: Institutional and relational
effects. *Academy of Management Journal* *45*: 215-233****


Lucea, R. (2010). How we see them versus how they see themselves: A
cognitive perspective of firm-NGO relationships. *Business & Society,* *49*:
116-139****

** **

Prakash, A. (2002). Beyond Seattle: globalization, the nonmarket
environment and corporate strategy. *Review of International Political
Economy,* *9*: 513-537****

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Ramamurti, R. (2001). The obsolescing “bargaining model”? MNC-host
developing country relations revisited, *Journal of International Business
Studies, **32:* 23-39.****

** **

Teegen, H., Doh, J.P., & Vachani, S. (2004). The importance of
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in global governance and value
creation: an international business research agenda. *Journal of
International Business Studies,* *35*: 463-483****

** **

Vernon R. (1971). *Sovereignty at Bay:The multinational spread of U.S.
enterprises*. New York: Basic Books.****

** **

** **

Toshiya Ozaki, PhD****

Professor of International Business****

College of Business, Rikkyo University****

Toshima-ku, Tokyo, Japan 171-8501****

Tel: 81-3-3985-4077 Fax: 81-3-3985-4085****

http://cob.rikkyo.ac.jp/en/

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