Business and Political Interactions in Emerging Markets: Experiences from China, South Africa and Turkey

Abstract

This chapter deals with firms’ relationships in particular with political actors when expanding in emerging markets. Our main purpose is to illustrate the importance of including such relationships when describing how firms develop insidership in networks in these markets. Emerging markets are often described as if they pose similar challenges but we will focus on the heterogeneity and how firms handle the diversity of the non-business foreign environment. Based on experiences from three Western multinationals — Sandvik, Ericsson and ABB — the main challenges in China, South Africa and Turkey are described. In addition to relationships with political actors, the discussion indicates the importance of also including other non-business actors, such as NGOs. The cases also illustrate that knowledge acquired in one cultural setting may not easily be transferred to another since the contexts are so different.

Citation

Alimadadi, S., Forsling, C., Pahlberg, C. and Pourmand Hilmersson, F. (2012), "Business and Political Interactions in Emerging Markets: Experiences from China, South Africa and Turkey", Hadjikhani, A., Elg, U. and Ghauri, P. (Ed.) Business, Society and Politics (International Business and Management, Vol. 28), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 209-230. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1876-066X(2012)0000028018