Internationalization of Guanxi from China to Africa
International Journal of Emerging Markets
ISSN: 1746-8809
Article publication date: 7 March 2022
Issue publication date: 5 December 2023
Abstract
Purpose
This study focuses on the use of guanxi by African returnees from China in Africa. It explains how returnees understood and leveraged guanxi to collaborate with Chinese partners.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses semi-structured interviews to document how guanxi is increasingly extending beyond Chinese borders. It focuses on Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania and analyzes the returnees' mobilization of guanxi in Sino–African business contexts.
Findings
African returnees play an increasingly important role in guanxi internationalization in Africa. Returnees' understanding of guanxi is shaped by their African traditions and their Chinese experiences, creating their new cultural capital and a dynamic Sino–African business mindset.
Originality/value
This paper reveals an emerging shift in the business mindset among African returnees once initiated in guanxi. In addition, guanxi is increasingly practiced by African organizations.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research was funded by an internal grant ($11,906) from the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa, Canada. The grant helped pay for the fieldwork trip and research assistantship. The ethics review board has approved this research under Certificate S-04-19-2977-ANN1-2977 at the University of Ottawa.
This is an independent research conducted by the author, there is no conflict of interest to report.
Citation
Ado, A. (2023), "Internationalization of
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited