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Taming wicked problems through international business policy: recommendations for addressing modern slavery

Matevž (Matt) Rašković (Department of International Business, Strategy and Entrepreneurship, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand)

Critical Perspectives on International Business

ISSN: 1742-2043

Article publication date: 25 August 2023

Issue publication date: 4 June 2024

402

Abstract

Purpose

The paper frames modern slavery as a global wicked problem and aims to provide a set of international business (IB) policy recommendations for taming it. The outlined approach can also guide IB policymaking to address other kinds of wicked problems.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper that reviews existing literature on wicked problems and integrates it with an IB policy double helix framework. The paper focuseses on the role multinational enterprises (MNEs) play in moderl slavery globally, either through global value chains or within global factory modes of operation.

Findings

As a global wicked problem, modern slavery will never be solved, but it can be re-solved time and time over. Understanding the social reproduction of modern slavery can help shift the focus from labor governance and a narrow supply chain focus toward the role of transnational governance and the need to address institutional, market and organizational failures.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the gap in an overarching theory of modern slavery and systematically applies the concept of wicked problems and wickedness theory to modern slavery. Drawing on an IB policy double helix framework, the paper addresses the governance nexus between modern slavery, IB and policymaking which can in turn advance IB policy research and theory.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The author wishes to thank Professor Rudolf Sinkovics for his developmental guidance as the handling Editor-in-Chief, as well as the two anonymous reviewers who have through their constructive and developmental feedback helped significantly improve the paper.

Citation

Rašković, M.(M). (2024), "Taming wicked problems through international business policy: recommendations for addressing modern slavery", Critical Perspectives on International Business, Vol. 20 No. 3, pp. 297-320. https://doi.org/10.1108/cpoib-09-2021-0081

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited

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