Beyond reductionism: rethinking MNEs' role in environmental crises

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Kano, Liena; Grogaard, Birgitte; Ciravegna, Luciano; Adarkwah, Gilbert Kofi
• 署名单位: University of Calgary; BI Norwegian Business School; INCAE Business School; University of Reading; Universite de Montreal; HEC Montreal
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS STUDIES
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2506
• DOI: 10.1057/s41267-025-00794-y
• 发表日期: 2025
• 页码: 795-806
• 关键词: New internalization theory; MNE; governance; Natural environment; bounded rationality; BOUNDED RELIABILITY; energy transition

摘要

This counterpoint challenges the view advanced by Yu, Bansal, and Arjali & egrave;s (J Int Business Stud 54:1151-1169, 2023), who argue that multinational enterprises (MNEs), by virtue of their cross-border operations, are inherently detrimental to the environment. While Yu et al.'s call for responsible resource use is commendable, we contend that their framework oversimplifies the complex realities of international business (IB). Drawing on New Internalization Theory (NIT), we examine environmental crises through the lens of multilevel complexity-macro-level institutional interdependencies, firm-level heterogeneity, and individual-level cognitive and behavioral constraints. Our approach underscores the role of bounded rationality and bounded reliability across all relevant actors-not just MNE managers-in shaping environmental outcomes. We find that Yu et al.'s proposed strategies give limited attention to the institutional, industry, organizational, and governance conditions under which environmental value is created. By contrast, we apply comparative institutional analysis to investigate MNEs' impact on the environment as compared to feasible, real-world alternatives. We argue that meaningful environmental progress hinges not on targeting MNEs, but on fostering multilateral coordination among public, private, and civil society actors, with MNEs being well positioned to lead such collaborations. We call for scholarship that avoids ideological overreach, embraces IB theory, and acknowledges MNEs as key agents in advancing environmental sustainability. Ce contrepoint remet en question la vision avanc & eacute;e par Yu, Bansal et Arjali & egrave;s (2023), qui argumentent qu'en raison de leurs op & eacute;rations transfrontali & egrave;res, les entreprises multinationales (Multinational Enterprises - MNEs) sont intrins & egrave;quement pr & eacute;judiciables & agrave; l'environnement. Bien que leur appel & agrave; une utilisation responsable des ressources soit louable, nous soutenons que leur cadre d'analyse simplifie & agrave; outrance les r & eacute;alit & eacute;s complexes des affaires internationales (International Business - IB). Nous appuyant sur la nouvelle th & eacute;orie de l'internalisation (New Internalization Theory - NIT), nous examinons les crises environnementales sous l'angle de la complexit & eacute; & agrave; plusieurs niveaux : interd & eacute;pendances institutionnelles au niveau macro, h & eacute;t & eacute;rog & eacute;n & eacute;it & eacute; au niveau de l'entreprise, et contraintes comportementales et cognitives au niveau de l'individu. Notre approche souligne le r & ocirc;le de la rationalit & eacute; et de la fiabilit & eacute; limit & eacute;es de tous les acteurs concern & eacute;s, et pas seulement des dirigeants des MNEs, dans l'& eacute;laboration des cons & eacute;quences environnementales. Nous constatons que les strat & eacute;gies propos & eacute;es par Yu et al. n'accordent qu'une attention limit & eacute;e aux conditions institutionnelles, sectorielles, organisationnelles et de gouvernance dans lesquelles est cr & eacute;& eacute;e la valeur environnementale. En revanche, nous appliquons une analyse institutionnelle comparative pour & eacute;tudier l'impact des MNEs sur l'environnement par rapport & agrave; des alternatives r & eacute;alisables dans le monde r & eacute;el. Nous argumentons que les progr & egrave;s environnementaux significatifs ne reposent pas sur le ciblage des MNEs, mais plut & ocirc;t sur la promotion de la coordination multilat & eacute;rale entre les acteurs publics, priv & eacute;s et de la soci & eacute;t & eacute; civile, les MNEs & eacute;tant bien plac & eacute;es pour diriger de telles collaborations. Nous appelons & agrave; des recherches qui & eacute;vitent la surench & egrave;re id & eacute;ologique, adoptent la th & eacute;orie de l'IB, et reconnaissent d'ailleurs les MNEs comme des agents cl & eacute;s dans la promotion de la durabilit & eacute; environnementale. Este contrapunto desaf & iacute;a la perspectiva propuesta por Yu, Bansal y Arjali & egrave;s (2023), quienes argumentan que las empresas multinacionales (EMNs), en virtud de sus operaciones transfronterizas, son inherentemente perjudiciales para el medio ambiente. Si bien su llamado al uso responsable de recursos es encomiable, sostenemos que su marco simplifica excesivamente las realidades complejas de los Negocios Internacionales (NI). Bas & aacute;ndonos en la Nueva Teor & iacute;a de Internalizaci & oacute;n (NTI), examinamos las crisis ambientales a trav & eacute;s del lente de la complejidad multinivel-interdependencias institucionales a nivel macro, heterogeneidad a nivel empresarial, y restricciones cognitivas y conductuales a nivel individual. Nuestro enfoque subraya el papel de la racionalidad limitada y la confiabilidad limitada en todos los actores relevantes, no solo en los gerentes de las empresas multinacionales, en la configuraci & oacute;n de resultados ambientales. Encontramos que las estrategias propuestas por Yu et al. prestan atenci & oacute;n limitada a las condiciones institucionales, industriales, organizacionales y de gobernanza bajo las cuales se crea valor ambiental. En contraste, aplicamos an & aacute;lisis institucional comparativo para investigar el impacto de las empresas multinacionales s en el medio ambiente en comparaci & oacute;n con alternativas factibles del mundo real. Argumentamos que el progreso ambiental significativo no depende de se & ntilde;alar a las empresas multinacionales como objetivo, sino de fomentar la coordinaci & oacute;n multilateral entre actores p & uacute;blicos, privados y de la sociedad civil, estando las empresas multinacionales bien posicionadas para liderar tales colaboraciones. Hacemos un llamado a la producci & oacute;n acad & eacute;mica que evite la extralimitaci & oacute;n ideol & oacute;gica, adopte la teor & iacute;a de Negocios Internacionales y reconozca a las empresas multinacionales como agentes clave en el avance de la sostenibilidad ambiental. Este contraponto desafia a vis & atilde;o apresentada por Yu, Bansal e Arjali & egrave;s (2023), que argumentam que empresas multinacionais (MNEs), em virtude de suas opera & ccedil;& otilde;es transfronteiri & ccedil;as, s & atilde;o intrinsecamente prejudiciais ao meio ambiente. Embora seu apelo por um uso respons & aacute;vel de recursos seja louv & aacute;vel, sustentamos que seu modelo simplifica por demais as realidades complexas de neg & oacute;cios internacionais (IB). Com base na Nova Teoria da Internaliza & ccedil;& atilde;o (NIT), examinamos crises ambientais sob a & oacute;tica da complexidade multin & iacute;vel-interdepend & ecirc;ncias institucionais no n & iacute;vel macro, heterogeneidade no n & iacute;vel de empresas e limita & ccedil;& otilde;es cognitivas e comportamentais no n & iacute;vel individual. Nossa abordagem destaca o papel da racionalidade limitada e da confiabilidade limitada entre todos os atores relevantes-n & atilde;o apenas os gestores de MNEs-na determina & ccedil;& atilde;o de resultados ambientais. Constatamos que as estrat & eacute;gias propostas por Yu et al. fornecem aten & ccedil;& atilde;o limitada & agrave;s condi & ccedil;& otilde;es institucionais, setoriais, organizacionais e de governan & ccedil;a sob as quais o valor ambiental & eacute; gerado. Em contraste, aplicamos uma an & aacute;lise institucional comparada para investigar o impacto de MNEs sobre o meio ambiente em compara & ccedil;& atilde;o com alternativas vi & aacute;veis do mundo real. Argumentamos que significativo progresso ambiental n & atilde;o depende de atacar MNEs, mas sim de fomentar a coordena & ccedil;& atilde;o multilateral entre setores p & uacute;blico, privado e sociedade civil, sendo MNEs bem posicionadas para liderar tais colabora & ccedil;& otilde;es. Convocamos a comunidade acad & ecirc;mica a evitar excessos ideol & oacute;gicos, adotar teoria em IB e reconhecer MNEs como agentes fundamentais na promo & ccedil;& atilde;o da sustentabilidade ambiental. (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) Yu,Bansal (sic) Arjali & egrave;s (2023) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (MNE) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (IB) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(NIT), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)--(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic),(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)((sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)MNE(sic)(sic)(sic))(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)Yu(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic),(sic)(sic),(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)MNE(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)MNE(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic),(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)MNE(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic),(sic)(sic) IB (sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)MNE(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).