Multinational enterprises (MNEs) are prime drivers of the trend of globalization.
As such, they can be held responsible for the success or failure of sustainable
development as it relates to continued economic growth without detriment
to the environment and exploitation of the human workforce through inadequate
labor standards. Corporate social responsibility is an initiative that has
been touted as a possible remedy for the ills of globalization that hinder the realization
of sustainable development—that is, inequities in wealth, environmental
degradation, and unfair labor practices that are endemic of globalization. This
Note outlines the concepts of corporate social responsibility, globalization, and
sustainable development and describes the role of multinational enterprises with
regard to these concepts. It also summarizes previous methods that have proved
inadequate in ensuring that sustainable development becomes a reality, including
national approaches, international agreements, and private initiatives