“Managing Polycrises: Global Strategy under Geopolitical Tensions and Climate Crisis”

Call for Papers – Special Issue: “Managing Polycrises: Global Strategy under Geopolitical Tensions and Climate Crisis”

Journal: Journal of International Management
Publisher: Elsevier
Submission deadline: 30 June 2026

Overview

This special issue—published by Elsevier—explores the compounded effects of geopolitical tensions and the climate crisis on Multinational Enterprises (MNEs). It shifts the focus from managing these as separate risks to understanding their bidirectional, intertwined nature (the "polycrisis"), and the subsequent implications for global strategy, operational resilience, and corporate governance in a volatile global environment.

Key Research Themes

• The Geopolitical-Climate Nexus: How geopolitical risks (e.g., trade wars, resource nationalism, territorial disputes) shape the effectiveness of climate mitigation strategies and supply chain resilience.

• Fragmented Governance: The impact of breaking down multilateral climate agreements and inconsistent national regulations on MNEs' ability to achieve long-term ESG and sustainability goals.

• Strategic Adaptive Capacity: Investigating the organizational capabilities, leadership incentives, and technological tools (e.g., AI/data analytics) that enable MNEs to navigate the tension between short-term geopolitical pressures and long-term climate commitments.

• MNE Performance & Response: Examining how MNEs adjust, de-risk, or abandon environmental initiatives in response to sanctions, regional conflicts, or re-shoring trends.

• Feedback Loops: Analyzing the influence of MNE activities on the polycrisis itself—such as the role of green infrastructure investment as a soft power tool versus the exacerbation of geopolitical conflict through competition for critical minerals.

Submission Details

• Submission window: 15 June 2026 – 30 June 2026.

• Submission portal: https://www.editorialmanager.com/intman/default.aspx

• Special Instructions: During the submission process, you must select the article type “VSI: Managing Polycrises” to ensure the manuscript is correctly routed to the special issue.

• Methodological Expectations: Theoretical papers, large-sample quantitative analyses, and qualitative case studies are all encouraged, provided they offer novel insights into how global strategy must evolve to address this compounded risk environment.

Guest Editors

• Álvaro Cuervo-Cazurra, Northeastern University (a.cuervo-cazurra@northeastern.edu)

• Jonathan Doh, Villanova University (jonathan.doh@villanova.edu)

• Soni Jha, Purdue University (jha57@pfw.edu)

• Yadong Luo, University of Miami (yadong@miami.edu)

• Ravi Ramamurti, Northeastern University (r.ramamurti@northeastern.edu)

Why This Issue Matters

The convergence of ecological destruction and interstate rivalry creates a compounded risk landscape that challenges traditional global strategy. This special issue—published by Elsevier—seeks to bridge the gap between IB theory and the urgent reality of the polycrisis, providing a platform for scholars to redefine how MNEs operate, govern, and contribute to global societal well-being amidst deepening instability.

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