Tarun Kanti Bose

Purpose: This study develops a conceptual framework explaining how corruption shapes the internationalization of entrepreneurial ventures in emerging economies through entrepreneurial networking. It conceptualizes corruption as a multidimensional institutional void that triggers the formation of domestic, regional and international networks and examines how entrepreneurial cognition and effectuation logic condition these processes. The study also accounts for the dark side of networking to explain when corruption-driven relational strategies constrain internationalization outcomes. Design/methodology/approach: The paper adopts a theory-driven conceptual approach grounded in institutional theory, international entrepreneurship, networking theory and entrepreneurial cognition. Drawing on an integrative review of interdisciplinary literature, it develops the Corruption–Networking–Internationalization Framework as an antecedent–process–outcome model. The framework specifies causal mechanisms linking different forms of corruption to multi-level networking strategies, moderated by entrepreneurial characteristics and constrained by relational liabilities. A set of theoretically grounded propositions is advanced to guide future empirical research. Findings: The study theorizes that corruption operates not only as a constraint but also as a catalyst for alternative governance mechanisms, prompting entrepreneurial ventures to rely on networks as functional substitutes for weak formal institutions. Domestic networks primarily mitigate administrative corruption, regional networks provide culturally proximate trust channels and international networks help firms bypass corrupt domestic systems and accelerate internationalization. Entrepreneurial effectuation logic, entrepreneurial orientation and opportunity-recognition cognition strengthen the translation of corruption-induced uncertainty into internationally oriented networking strategies. However, excessive reliance on domestic, political or corrupt networks can generate over embeddedness, opportunism and de-internationalization risks. Research limitations/implications: This study is conceptual and has not been empirically validated across different emerging economy contexts. It does not test the proposed relationships using quantitative or qualitative data. The framework assumes relatively distinct domestic, regional and international network layers, which may overlap in practice. It also does not specify boundary conditions under which networks may produce negative outcomes. In addition, heterogeneity in entrepreneurial cognition and institutional responses to corruption is not directly examined within an empirical setting. Originality/value: The study reconceptualizes corruption as an active antecedent shaping entrepreneurial networking configurations rather than merely an exogenous barrier. It introduces a multi-layered view of networks as institutional substitutes and integrates entrepreneurial cognition and the dark side of networking into international entrepreneurship theory. The Corruption–Networking–Internationalization framework provides a dynamic and context-sensitive explanation of entrepreneurial ventures internationalization from corruption-heavy emerging economies.

This paper develops a theoretical framework for understanding the structural resurgence of central bank gold accumulation within the context of geo‐economic fragmentation. The paper conceptualizes gold accumulation as the expression of a mercantilist orientation—a latent strategic disposition, grounded in bounded rationality and institutional routines. This orientation is analytically embedded within a geo‐economic realist framework that treats reserve composition as an instrument of strategic statecraft. The framework introduces reserve sovereignty—the capacity to manage reserves without external interference—as a novel analytical outcome. Seven testable propositions are advanced, structured around antecedents, mediators, moderators, and outcomes.

The relationship between international trade and security cooperation has re‐emerged as a central concern in global political economy, international relations, and international business scholarship. While research examines the effects of trade on peace and the economic consequences of security alliances, existing work remains theoretically fragmented and largely static, offering limited insight into how trade and security jointly evolve over time. This article develops a co‐evolutionary framework: the Trade–Security Loop, to explain the reciprocal and dynamic interaction between economic interdependence and defense alliances. Integrating insights from economic interdependence theory, institutional and alliance theories, geo‐economics, and international business research, the framework theorizes how trade interdependence shapes security cooperation, how alliances restructure trade patterns, and how these processes generate self‐reinforcing feedback mechanisms. We advance six propositions specifying the conditions under which the trade–security loop produces virtuous cycles of integration or vicious cycles of fragmentation. In particular, we identify strategic sector sensitivity, power asymmetry, and institutional compatibility as critical boundary conditions that moderate the strength and direction of trade–security feedback effects. By reconceptualizing trade and security as mutually endogenous systems, this article refines existing theories of economic interdependence and alliances, and provides a theoretically integrated foundation for understanding alliance‐based trade governance.

This study examines how international political awareness (IPA) shapes international partner selection (IPS) in an increasingly fractured global economy. Specifically, it investigates the roles of geopolitical knowledge and political and trade activism in translating firms' political awareness into legitimacy‐sensitive international partner choices. Drawing on institutional theory and the resource‐based view, the study conceptualizes IPA as a dynamic political capability distinct from existing constructs such as political risk management and nonmarket strategy. Survey data were collected from 714 export–import firms operating in Malaysia, Thailand, India, and Bangladesh. The results show that IPA has a strong and positive association with IPS across all country contexts. Geopolitical knowledge mediates the IPA–IPS relationship, indicating that political awareness becomes strategically consequential when firms possess interpretive depth regarding geopolitical disruptions. Political and trade activism further moderates this relationship in India and Bangladesh, where activism pressures are more intense, but not in Malaysia and Thailand—a divergence attributable to differences in institutional maturity, global value chain exposure, and the salience of informal governance mechanisms. This study advances international business research by offering an integrative framework that links political capabilities, geopolitical knowledge, and activism to explain partner selection under conditions of geopolitical fragmentation.

Amid escalating global turbulence, international firms increasingly face geopolitical catastrophes that disrupt markets, supply chains, and institutions. This study examines how firms respond strategically to such disruptions, highlighting entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and international political awareness (IPA) as key behavioral and cognitive enablers. Drawing on dynamic capability and effectuation theories, the paper develops and tests a model linking geopolitical catastrophes to firms' strategic responses—market and operational reconfiguration, political engagement, and collaboration—while assessing the moderating roles of EO and IPA. Survey data from 275 internationally active firms in India and Bangladesh are analyzed using hierarchical regression. Results show that geopolitical catastrophes significantly shape firms' strategic responses, with EO and IPA both enhancing adaptation and strengthening the catastrophe–response relationship. Firms with higher EO exhibit greater innovation and proactiveness, while those with stronger IPA demonstrate superior political foresight and institutional adaptability. Indian firms display marginally higher EO, IPA, and responsiveness.

This study explores the impact of socio-cultural factors on the performance of women entrepreneurs in emerging economies (EEs), with a specific focus on Bangladesh. Despite the growing presence of female entrepreneurs, their performance remains constrained by deep-rooted societal norms and institutional barriers. The research examines four critical socio-cultural variables – attitudes towards wealth/material gain, attitudes towards innovation, attitudes towards risk-taking, and gender discrimination – and their influence on entrepreneurial outcomes. Drawing upon a sample of 245 female entrepreneurs, data were collected through both online and offline surveys using structured questionnaires. Employing Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), the study tested four hypotheses. The findings reveal that, contrary to popular assumptions, attitudes towards wealth, innovation, and risk-taking do not significantly influence the performance of women entrepreneurs in the context studied. However, gender discrimination was found to have a statistically significant impact, underscoring its persistent role as a barrier to female entrepreneurial success. The study contributes to the literature by highlighting how entrenched gender norms and discriminatory practices outweigh individual attitudes in shaping entrepreneurial performance. Practical implications call for targeted policy interventions, increased access to mentorship and business education, and the dismantling of systemic 2026biases. Theoretically, the research reinforces the importance of contextualising female entrepreneurship within broader socio-cultural frameworks. Limitations and future research directions are also discussed.

Purpose: This study investigates the rise of online female entrepreneurship in emerging economies from institutional perspectives and the resource-based view (RBV). The research also explores how choosing online entrepreneurship affects the performance of female entrepreneurs.Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected through surveys, and quantitative data analysis was used to test the hypotheses.Findings: The results indicate that women entrepreneurs perceive online platforms as rare, valuable, imperfectly imitable and non-substitutable resources. Furthermore, the impact of informal institutions on choosing online platforms is supported, but the influence of formal institutions remains unclear. Additionally, the study finds that opting for online platforms helps entrepreneurs achieve financial and stakeholder relationship goals but does not significantly contribute to strategic and learning goals.Originality/value: Our research highlights how transitioning from a physical to an online business platform can become a valuable resource for marginalized, deprived and struggling entrepreneurs, particularly women, operating within challenging institutional contexts, often prevalent in emerging economies.

Previous studies have shown that institutional environments play an important role in explaining entrepreneurship in a given country. Yet, most of the extant studies focus on samples derived from developed-economies. While some attentions have been given to countries in developing economies, the focus was mainly on a few rapidly developing countries whereas others remain largely under-explored. Moreover, developing countries in the Asian region provides a compelling context to be studied as it espouses different institutional logics. To address these issues, we assess the perceptions of the regulatory, cognitive, and normative institutional dimensions that may promote entrepreneurship in a sample of 701 business students from three Asian’s developing economies: Malaysia, Bangladesh, and China. In general, the overall institutional environments level for Malaysia and China are perceived as favorable for entrepreneurship whereas Bangladesh is perceived as relatively less favorable for entrepreneurship. Moreover, results suggest that there are significant differences in the country’s institutional environments between Bangladesh and Malaysia, as well as between Bangladesh and China. These results revealed important cross-national differences and invariance between the three countries in the same Asian region. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.