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CIAO DATE: 06/06
Understanding Multinational Corporations in War-torn Societies: Sudan in Focus
Luke A. Patey
April 2006
Abstract
There is a clear starting point for engaging Multinational Corporations (MNCs) in war-torn societies: understand the factors that determine the behaviour of these enterprises in the instable and insecure environments in which they operate. It is certainly a worthwhile objective considering the immense influence, whether deliberate or not, MNCs have on many civil wars in the developing world. Just as MNCs can act as sources of economic and social development, they can also factor into the reasoning of contemporary civil war.
A deeper comprehension of MNC strategic behaviour will allow policy-makers to design and implement more effective initiatives that assist corporations in avoiding any aggravation of conflict through their operations. This DIIS Brief encourages forming a better understanding of MNC decision-making in war-torn societies by providing an analytical tool to organize the various instrumental factors pertinent to individual corporations. Based on extensive research conducted on international oil companies in Sudan, a framework is suggested to classify individual MNC behaviour. This allows for the development of knowledge on international corporations in war-torn societies that can be utilized to reflect against outcomes in policy initiatives.
