Abstract
Studies on multi-stakeholder processes and cross-sector partnerships have demonstrated that multiple stakeholders across different sectors can resolve sustainable development issues when they combine their complementary resources and capacities. These studies have highlighted the role of multinational enterprises (MNEs), considering their requisite resources and capacities to implement intervention strategies. However, MNEs’ role remains largely underexplored in the context of non-state cultural regions where state governance is entirely lacking. Drawing on the findings of ethnographic fieldwork conducted in the Golden Triangle region near Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos borders, this study investigates how multiple stakeholders’ collective interventions transformed the illicit drug-based economy of the region into an alternative sustainable economy. The region once supplied 60% of the illicit drugs distributed worldwide, yet a series of cross-sector interventions transformed the region into a sustainable economy over the past 60 years. The findings show that the foreign subsidiaries of MNEs proactively explored the unknown region and shared knowledge with other actors, which helped participating stakeholders effectively address regional sustainable development issues. The resulting process model sheds light on MNEs’ central roles at various stages of the multi-stakeholder process, offering new insights into informal institutions and intercultural studies in the field of international business.
Résumé
Les recherches portées sur les processus associant de multiples parties prenantes et les partenariats intersectoriels ont démontré que de multiples parties prenantes dans différents secteurs pouvaient résoudre les problèmes de développement durable lorsqu'elles combinent leurs ressources et capacités complémentaires. Ces recherches ont mis en évidence le rôle des entreprises multinationales (Multinational Enterprises - MNEs), compte tenu des ressources et des capacités dont elles disposent pour mettre en œuvre des stratégies d'intervention. Néanmoins, le rôle des MNEs reste largement sous-exploré dans le contexte des régions culturelles non étatiques où la gouvernance étatique est totalement absente. S'appuyant sur les résultats d'un travail ethnographique de terrain mené dans la région du Triangle d'Or, près des frontières de la Thaïlande, du Myanmar et du Laos, cette recherche examine comment les interventions collectives de multiples parties prenantes ont transformé l'économie basée sur les drogues illicites de la région en une économie alternative durable. La région fournissait autrefois 60 % des drogues illicites distribuées dans le monde, mais une série d'interventions intersectorielles l'ont transformée en une économie durable au cours des 60 dernières années. Les résultats montrent que les filiales étrangères des MNEs ont proactivement exploré la région inconnue et partagé des connaissances avec d'autres acteurs, ce qui a aidé les parties prenantes participantes à traiter efficacement les questions de développement durable de la région. Le modèle processuel qui en résulte met en lumière les rôles centraux des MNEs à différentes étapes du processus associant de multiples parties prenantes, offrant de nouvelles perspectives sur les institutions informelles et les recherches interculturelles dans le domaine des affaires internationales.
Resumen
Los estudios sobre los procesos de los grupos de interés y las colaboraciones intersectoriales han demostrado que varios grupos de interés entre diferentes sectores pueden resolver asuntos de desarrollo sostenible cuando combinan sus recursos y capacidades complementarias. Estos estudios han resaltado el papel de las empresas multinacionales (MNEs por sus iniciales en inglés), considerando los recursos y capacidades requeridas para implementar las estrategias de intervención. Sin embargo, el papel de las empresas multinacionales permanece sub-explorado en el contexto de las regiones culturales no estatales en donde la gobernanza del estado es absolutamente ausente. Con base en los hallazgos de un trabajo de campo etnográfico llevado a cabo en la región de Triángulo de Oro cerca de las fronteras de Tailandia, Myanmar y Laos, este estudio investiga como las intervenciones colectivas de varios grupos de interés transformaron la economía ilícita basada en drogas en una economía sostenible alternativa. La región en algún momento suministró 60% de las drogas ilícitas distribuidas en todo el mundo, con todo, una serie de intervenciones, con todo, las colaboraciones entre sectores transformaron la región en una economía sostenible durante los últimos 60 años. Los hallazgos muestran que las filiales extranjeras de las empresas multinacionales de manera proactiva exploraron la región desconocida y compartió conocimiento con otros actores, la cual les ayudó a los grupos de interés participantes a abordar de manera efectiva los asuntos regionales de desarrollo sostenible. El proceso modelo que resultó arroja luces sobre los papeles centrales de las empresas multinacionales en varias etapas del proceso de múltiples grupos de interés, ofreciendo nuevas perspectivas en las instituciones informales y los estudios interculturales en el campo de negocios internacionales.
Resumo
Estudos sobre processos multiatores e parcerias intersetoriais demonstraram que múltiplos stakeholders em diferentes setores podem resolver questões de desenvolvimento sustentável quando combinam seus recursos e capacidades complementares. Estes estudos destacaram o papel de empresas multinacionais (MNEs), considerando os recursos e capacidades necessários para implementar estratégias de intervenção. No entanto, o papel de MNEs permanece amplamente subexplorado no contexto de regiões culturais não estatais em que a governança do estado é totalmente ausente. Com base em conclusões de trabalho de campo etnográfico realizado na região do Triângulo Dourado, cerca das fronteiras de Tailândia, Mianmar e Laos, este estudo investiga como intervenções coletivas de vários stakeholders transformaram a economia ilegal da região baseada em drogas numa economia alternativa sustentável. A região, que já forneceu 60% das drogas ilícitas distribuídas no mundo, após uma série de intervenções intersetoriais se transformou numa economia sustentável ao longo dos últimos 60 anos. Conclusões apontam que subsidiárias estrangeiras de MNEs exploraram proativamente a região desconhecida e compartilharam conhecimentos com outros atores, o que ajudou stakeholders envolvidos a abordar eficazmente questões de desenvolvimento sustentável regional. O modelo de processo resultante esclarece o papel central de MNEs nos vários estágios do processo multistakeholder, oferecendo novas perspectivas a respeito de instituições informais e estudos interculturais no domínio dos negócios internacionais.
摘要
对多个利益相关方进程和跨部门伙伴关系的研究表明, 当不同部门的多个利益相关方结合互补资源和能力时, 他们就可以解决可持续发展问题。 这些研究强调了跨国企业 (MNE) 的作用, 考虑到它们实施干预战略所必需的资源和能力。然而, 在完全缺乏国家治理的非国家文化地区的情境下, MNE的作用在很大程度上仍挖掘不足。借鉴在泰国、缅甸和老挝边境附近的金三角地区进行的民族志实地发现, 本研究调查了多个利益相关者的集体干预如何将该地区以非法药物为基础的经济转变为另一种可持续经济。该地区曾经供应了全球60%的非法药物, 但在过去60年中, 一系列跨部门干预措施将该地区转型为可持续经济。这些发现表明, MNE的外国子公司积极探索了未知区域, 并与其他行为者分享了知识, 这有助于参与的利益相关方有效解决区域可持续发展问题。由此产生的过程模型揭示了MNE在多方利益相关者过程各个阶段的核心作用, 为国际商务领域的非正式制度和跨文化研究提供了新洞见。
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Notes
This quote can be found in The Hall of Opium Museum in Doi Tung district in Northern Chiang Rai.
Self-reports from 12 villagers among the Hmong, Karen, and Shan.
Self-reports from MFLF staff. See also Diskul et al. (2019).
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Acknowledgements
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Prof. Ans Kolk and three anonymous reviewers for their valuable guidance and support. I am further grateful for constructive comments from Metawe Thamagasorn, Naw Thein Paw Awar, and Nick Pisalyaput.
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Accepted by Ans Kolk, Area Editor, 20 October 2023. This article has been with the author for four revisions.
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Song, HC. The war on drugs: how multi-stakeholder partnerships contribute to sustainable development in the Golden Triangle region. J Int Bus Stud (2023). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-023-00669-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-023-00669-0