ABSTRACT

It may seem a strange notion to give the private sector a role in conflict prevention or resolution, but multinational corporations (mncs) do have some characteristics that make them suitable companions in a well-tailored strategy for peace and stability. Their presence in a country can give incentives for prosperity, for rebuilding society and its institutions, and for improving respect for human rights. Their role is not mediating between warring factions, with one eye on the Nobel Peace Prize, because that requires an expertise truly beyond the core business of an mnc. It is precisely through performing its core business that the private sector can foster stability in a country or region.