ABSTRACT
This chapter suggests a deficiency in the understanding of the complex realities in emerging economies in global supply chains. We question the underlying assumptions that drive current approaches to sustainability in global supply chains. Sustainability as currently defined and approached by large multinational corporations, a large group of NGOs and international institutions attempts to define a normative pathway to improvement that primarily relies on Western values and in some parts is rooted in the vested interests of a minority of players. The chapter draws on a discussion of existing literature and insights from a developing country. It specifically adopts Griggs et al.’s (2013) representation of TBL of sustainability, gets inspiration from international development and poverty literature, and applies Maslow’s hierarchy of needs as a theoretical lens. We suggest a multilevel and systemic view of the issue and articulate a number of propositions to guide future research.
