The Role of Multinational Enterprises in Responding to Violent Conflict: A Conceptual Model and Framework for Research

The purpose of this paper is to examine how multinational enterprises and their subsidiaries (MNE) can respond to violent conflict in the host countries where they operate and what types of strategic inventions are most appropriate. Drawing on insights from the conflict resolution, corporate social responsibility, and political risk literatures, we develop a framework that provides guidance to MNEs confronting violent conflict with respect to existing projects or facilities. This is the first paper, to our knowledge, to not only demonstrate that private sector firms may have a role to play in resolving violent conflicts and to identify strategic interventions, but also to specify the conditions under which different interventions are appropriate. Role of MNEs in Responding to Violent Conflict Page 3 of 35