Title

Preventing International Terrorism: Can Multinational Corporations Offer a Fresh New Perspective?

Abstract

Multinational corporations (“MNC”s) while investing in new ventures all over the world, have managed a variety of risk factors such as developing country risk, language risk, cultural risk, currency risk, and political risk including terrorism. The risk management strategies that have worked for MNCs would be beneficial and effective for states around the world, as well as the United States of America (“USA”), to win the war against terrorism. Furthermore, the USA has a unique position in the world, where it has accumulated dormant knowledge regarding fighting terrorism in light of its ownership of the most respected, most profitable and largest corporations in the world.

Approximately 80 percent of terrorist attacks against American interests over the past 30 years have been directed against American businesses. Because businesses have been the most common targets in international attacks, they have devised strategies to prevent and manage terrorism threats and attacks. It has already been proven that the classic methods of relying on legislative and military measures alone to fight terrorism are not providing sufficiently satisfactory results. By examining how MNCs handle the threat of terrorism, the USA can benefit from the successes achieved by such MNCs. The MNC practices will thereafter be implemented to improve and enhance the existing terrorism fighting mechanisms of the Department of Homeland Security.

The article specifically recommends using MNC practices such as conducting public relations campaigns, building strategic alliances, and using the concept of best practices in the field of fighting terrorism. Forming an MNC advisory council that would operate under the Department of Homeland Security is another recommendation explained in more detail. Finally, the article suggests that the MNCs may prove to be the sine qua non element in preventing international terrorism.

Disciplines

Business Organizations Law | International Law | Military, War, and Peace

Date of this Version

March 2006