The role of Jordanian multinationals in countering terrorism and enhancing security: a stakeholder approach

Abu-Arja, Ahmad (2019) The role of Jordanian multinationals in countering terrorism and enhancing security: a stakeholder approach. Doctoral thesis (PhD), Manchester Metropolitan University.

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Abstract

Terrorism is considered one of the most growing global problems in modern history. Despite the devastating impact terrorism has on politics, the economy and global trade, governments are yet to design effective strategies to counter the phenomenon and enhance the overall security of nations. In light of this, this study contributes to the overall cause and the call for investigating the role of the private sector in countering terrorism. This examination is supported by the application of corporate social responsibility and responsiveness concepts, and the utilisation of the existing stakeholder theory framework. In this regard, the overarching aim of this thesis is to investigate the likelihood of firms to implement social response strategies to reduce or eliminate the impact of terrorism. For the purposes of achieving this aim, the study commissioned the data collection process from a sample of Jordanian multinational corporations. Given their firm-specific capabilities, access to resources and capital, multinational corporations are known for their abilities to contribute to social and economic development worldwide. Additionally, while the multinational is the unit of analysis in this thesis, the choice of Jordan as the location to conduct this study contributes to the lack of research on developing countries, especially in a geographic area that is known for its propensity to being affected by terrorism. By applying the quantitative approach and the survey method, the distribution of a questionnaire to the responding sample of Jordanian multinationals yielded unique empirical results. When examining the relationship between a number of factors and firms’ likelihood to implement the variety of response strategies, the results indicated that the secondary stakeholders’ pressures, those represented by governments, the media, communities and NGOs have the most significant influence on firms’ likelihood to implement such strategies. Likewise, the results indicated that other factors such as the firms’ level of exposure to terrorism and firm-specific characteristics such as firm size and firm age have a partial influence on the implementation of said strategies. Conversely, this study found no significant relationship between primary stakeholders and the likelihood to implement response strategies to counter terrorism and enhance security. The discussion of these results, the contribution to existing knowledge and the research implications are provided later in this thesis.