This article explores the role of multinational enterprises (MNEs) in sustainable development by drawing on the perspectives of four distinguished management scholars—Stuart Hart, Ans Kolk, Sanjay Sharma, and Sandra Waddock—as well as the extant literature on sustainability, corporate social responsibility, and international management. The discussions are centered around “Sustainable Global Enterprise” (SGE)—a new concept coined by Hart. Hart labels those MNEs that can generate competitive strategies that simultaneously deliver economic, social, and environmental benefits for the entire world as SGEs. Through deliberations with the above leading thinkers, this article offers insights into how MNEs can imbue the sustainability principles into their strategic framework and simultaneously contribute to sustainable development. The article also sheds light on the enormous new research opportunities yet to be tapped by international management and sustainability scholars.
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