and holistic perspectives on corporate sustainability*

Coevolution is an established research framework in the biological and evolutionary sciences, and though a new entrant to organization studies, it holds potential to transform the field (Lewin et al., 2003). Its fundamental premise is that entities or organizations evolve in relation to their environments while at the same time these environments evolve in relation to them. This paper argues that a coevolutionary approach is particularly well suited for research on organizations and the natural environment (O&NE), and that O&NE scholars may make significant contributions to organization theory from this perspective. However, this potential depends upon developing and maintaining a clear distinction between coevolution as a verb, or broad logic (a.k.a. macro coevolution), and coevolution as a noun, or specific mechanism (a.k.a. micro coevolution). In building these arguments the paper develops a definition and research framework for coevolutionary research and discusses theoretical and practical implications for O&NE.

We analyze the relationship between multinationality and firm performance from the perspective of differing institutional contexts. We use the institutional theory to develop a framework depicting the role played by institutional factors in the multinationality-performance relationship. It is argued that the institutional context has significant performance implications for multinational firms. This impact on the performance varies depending on the degree of multinationality the firm has already achieved. 2 Exploring the Role of Institutional Context in the Multinationality-Performance Relationship This study synthesizes previous literature on multinationality and its relationship with firm’s performance, bringing out the conflicting and somewhat confusing results that have been shown to exist. An attempt to understand the underlying reasons behind this varying nature of the multinationality-performance relationship is made from the perspective of differing institutional contexts. We develop an analytic framework to understand the moderating role of institutional factors on the multinationality-performance relationship and make propositions relating to firm

“I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country…..corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed.” Abraham Lincoln, November 21, 1864 This chapter describes and critiques emerging discourses of corporate citizenship, social responsibility and sustainability. I discuss some of the key assumptions that frame these discourses. I argue that despite its emancipatory rhetoric, discourses of corporate citizenship, social responsibility and sustainability are defined by narrow business interests and serve to curtail interests of external stakeholders. The chapter is organized in three parts. First, I discuss briefly key concepts of corporate citizenship, sustainability as well as corporate “triple bottom line ” strategies that attempt to integrate economic, social and environmental concerns. I critique the fundamental

The University of Twente is a university for technical and social sciences in the Netherlands. The CSTM is the interfaculty institute for environmental studies at the University of Twente. The research, educational and advisory activities of the CSTM aim at the development of new strategies for public policy, technology and management as conditions for a responsible environmental protection.

the co-Editor of the Special Issue Anne Ilinitch, and three anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments at various stages of this work. All errors and omissions remain my own. Financial support