Globalization and the role of the global corporation

A great deal of controversy exists these days concerning the role of the global corporations with very little agreement. Many charges and claims are made, often unsubstantiated and contradictory. The situation is complex due to the many different issues and points of view. This paper identifies some of the problems, issues, and perspectives and then suggests that the key question concerns the net effect of the global corporation. Unfortunately, the answer to that question still depends on a person's point of view. Therefore, it is concluded that it would be a mistake to simplify any discussion of the role of the global corporation and that we need a generally accepted set of guidelines for ethical behavior of the global corporation. This background is then used to introduce the other papers in this special issue of the Journal of International Management.