Rašković, M2024-01-292024-01-292023-08-25Critical Perspectives on International Business, ISSN: 1742-2043 (Print); 1742-2043 (Online), Emerald, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print). doi: 10.1108/cpoib-09-2021-00811742-20431742-2043http://hdl.handle.net/10292/17152Purpose: The paper frames modern slavery as a global wicked problem and aims to provide a set of international business (IB) policy recommendations for taming it. The outlined approach can also guide IB policymaking to address other kinds of wicked problems. Design/methodology/approach: This is a conceptual paper that reviews existing literature on wicked problems and integrates it with an IB policy double helix framework. The paper focuseses on the role multinational enterprises (MNEs) play in moderl slavery globally, either through global value chains or within global factory modes of operation. Findings: As a global wicked problem, modern slavery will never be solved, but it can be re-solved time and time over. Understanding the social reproduction of modern slavery can help shift the focus from labor governance and a narrow supply chain focus toward the role of transnational governance and the need to address institutional, market and organizational failures. Originality/value: The paper contributes to the gap in an overarching theory of modern slavery and systematically applies the concept of wicked problems and wickedness theory to modern slavery. Drawing on an IB policy double helix framework, the paper addresses the governance nexus between modern slavery, IB and policymaking which can in turn advance IB policy research and theory.Copyright © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2023. Authors retain the right to place his/her pre-publication version of the work on a personal website or institutional repository for non commercial purposes. The definitive version was published in (see Citation). The original publication is available at www.emeraldinsight.com (see Publisher’s Version).35 Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services3507 Strategy, Management and Organisational Behaviour8 Decent Work and Economic Growth1503 Business and Management1608 SociologyBusiness & Management3505 Human resources and industrial relations3507 Strategy, management and organisational behaviourJournal ArticleOpenAccess10.1108/cpoib-09-2021-0081