This article studies multi-stakeholder initiatives (MSIs) as spaces for both deliberation and contestation between constituencies with competing discourses and disputed values, beliefs, and preferences. We review different theoretical perspectives on MSIs, which see them mainly as spaces to find solutions to market problems (economic approach), as spaces of conflict and bargaining (political approach), or as spaces of consensus (deliberative approach). In contrast, we build on a contestatory deliberative perspective, which gives equal value to both contestation and consensus. We identify four types of internal contestation which can be present in MSIs—procedural, inclusiveness, epistemic, and ultimate-goal—and argue that embracing contestation and engaging in ongoing revision of provisional agreements, criteria, and goals can enhance the democratic quality of MSIs. Finally, we explore the implications of this perspective for theorizing about the democratic quality in MSIs and about the role of corporations in transnational governance.

中文翻译：

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多方利益相关者倡议的争论：提高跨国治理的民主质量

本文研究多利益相关方倡议 (MSI) 作为具有竞争性话语和有争议的价值观、信仰和偏好的支持者之间进行审议和争论的空间。我们回顾了关于 MSI 的不同理论观点，这些观点主要将它们视为寻找市场问题解决方案的空间（经济方法）、冲突和讨价还价的空间（政治方法）或共识的空间（协商方法）。相比之下，我们建立在争论性审议的观点上，它赋予争论和共识同等的价值。我们确定了 MSI 中可能存在的四种内部争论——程序性、包容性、认知性和最终目标——并认为拥抱争论并参与对临时协议、标准、和目标可以提高 MSI 的民主质量。最后，我们探讨了这一观点对有关多国利益的民主质量和公司在跨国治理中的作用的理论化的影响。