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Conference Paper/Proceeding/Abstract 124 views

Human Rights in the MNE Network: Exploring the Complexities of the Parent-Subsidiary Relationship

Louise Obara Orcid Logo, Irina Gokh

The 5th Annual Business and Human Rights Scholars Association Conference, University of Essex, UK. (2019)

Swansea University Author: Louise Obara Orcid Logo

Abstract

The relationship between multinational enterprises (MNEs) and their suppliers features heavily in the business and human rights (BHR) discourse. Indeed, some of the seminal cases that triggered the debate about corporate human rights impacts and responsibilities, such as Nike’s use of ‘sweatshops’,...

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Published in: The 5th Annual Business and Human Rights Scholars Association Conference, University of Essex, UK. (2019)
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67611
first_indexed 2025-01-30T16:02:05Z
last_indexed 2025-09-24T05:31:42Z
id cronfa67611
recordtype SURis
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spelling 2025-09-23T11:38:45.2663670 v2 67611 2024-09-09 Human Rights in the MNE Network: Exploring the Complexities of the Parent-Subsidiary Relationship d07383b968fda958fb49d7f80af2214b 0000-0003-4468-9914 Louise Obara Louise Obara true false 2024-09-09 CBAE The relationship between multinational enterprises (MNEs) and their suppliers features heavily in the business and human rights (BHR) discourse. Indeed, some of the seminal cases that triggered the debate about corporate human rights impacts and responsibilities, such as Nike’s use of ‘sweatshops’, concerned the practices of MNEs’ suppliers. Whilst a small body of work exists that explores the relationships of MNEs from a BHR perspective, most notably by legal scholars, this literature fails to capture the complexities and dynamics of the MNE network particularly that of the parent-subsidiary relationship. We address this by utilising insights from the international business field, specifically how companies develop and structure their global operations as part of their internationalisation strategy. Through the notion of the ‘dynamic differentiated network’, we explore in detail the web of relationships that global companies cultivate to conduct their business and the implications this presents for the protection of human rights. We argue it is crucial that the intricacies of MNE networks are explored in detail, as without this knowledge we are not able to fully appreciate the factors that enable as well as hinder the transfer of good human rights practices within the parent-subsidiary relationship. Conference Paper/Proceeding/Abstract The 5th Annual Business and Human Rights Scholars Association Conference, University of Essex, UK. (2019) 0 0 0 0001-01-01 COLLEGE NANME Management School COLLEGE CODE CBAE Swansea University 2025-09-23T11:38:45.2663670 2024-09-09T15:57:14.5471655 Louise Obara 0000-0003-4468-9914 1 Irina Gokh 2
title Human Rights in the MNE Network: Exploring the Complexities of the Parent-Subsidiary Relationship
spellingShingle Human Rights in the MNE Network: Exploring the Complexities of the Parent-Subsidiary Relationship
Louise Obara
title_short Human Rights in the MNE Network: Exploring the Complexities of the Parent-Subsidiary Relationship
title_full Human Rights in the MNE Network: Exploring the Complexities of the Parent-Subsidiary Relationship
title_fullStr Human Rights in the MNE Network: Exploring the Complexities of the Parent-Subsidiary Relationship
title_full_unstemmed Human Rights in the MNE Network: Exploring the Complexities of the Parent-Subsidiary Relationship
title_sort Human Rights in the MNE Network: Exploring the Complexities of the Parent-Subsidiary Relationship
author_id_str_mv d07383b968fda958fb49d7f80af2214b
author_id_fullname_str_mv d07383b968fda958fb49d7f80af2214b_***_Louise Obara
author Louise Obara
author2 Louise Obara
Irina Gokh
format Conference Paper/Proceeding/Abstract
container_title The 5th Annual Business and Human Rights Scholars Association Conference, University of Essex, UK. (2019)
institution Swansea University
document_store_str 0
active_str 0
description The relationship between multinational enterprises (MNEs) and their suppliers features heavily in the business and human rights (BHR) discourse. Indeed, some of the seminal cases that triggered the debate about corporate human rights impacts and responsibilities, such as Nike’s use of ‘sweatshops’, concerned the practices of MNEs’ suppliers. Whilst a small body of work exists that explores the relationships of MNEs from a BHR perspective, most notably by legal scholars, this literature fails to capture the complexities and dynamics of the MNE network particularly that of the parent-subsidiary relationship. We address this by utilising insights from the international business field, specifically how companies develop and structure their global operations as part of their internationalisation strategy. Through the notion of the ‘dynamic differentiated network’, we explore in detail the web of relationships that global companies cultivate to conduct their business and the implications this presents for the protection of human rights. We argue it is crucial that the intricacies of MNE networks are explored in detail, as without this knowledge we are not able to fully appreciate the factors that enable as well as hinder the transfer of good human rights practices within the parent-subsidiary relationship.
published_date 0001-01-01T05:23:16Z
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score 11.444473

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