Leiden University Scholarly Publications

Putten, F.P. van der (2001)

Corporate behaviour and political risk : Dutch companies in China, 1903-1941

Doctoral Thesis

How do multinationals respond to political risk? Especially in non-Western countries, foreign investors are frequently confronted with political insecurity. This book takes a close look at the relationship between multinational corporations and political factors in early twentieth-century China, when political change in this country was highly dramatic. Revolutions and war tore apart many of the traditions of imperial China, and threatened the interests of foreign companies in one of the world's most promising markets. This study focuses on the interests of Dutch firms and their response to political risk in China before the Pacific War. This includes very large corporations that are again active in the Chinese market today, such as Shell, Philips, Unilever, and ABN-Amro. Their behaviour in China up to 1941 is analysed and explained in order to gain a better understanding of the attitude of foreign investors towards political developments during a turbulent and formative phase in...Show moreHow do multinationals respond to political risk? Especially in non-Western countries, foreign investors are frequently confronted with political insecurity. This book takes a close look at the relationship between multinational corporations and political factors in early twentieth-century China, when political change in this country was highly dramatic. Revolutions and war tore apart many of the traditions of imperial China, and threatened the interests of foreign companies in one of the world's most promising markets. This study focuses on the interests of Dutch firms and their response to political risk in China before the Pacific War. This includes very large corporations that are again active in the Chinese market today, such as Shell, Philips, Unilever, and ABN-Amro. Their behaviour in China up to 1941 is analysed and explained in order to gain a better understanding of the attitude of foreign investors towards political developments during a turbulent and formative phase in Chinese history.Show less

China

Dutch companies

International trade

Organizational behaviour

Political aspects

Risk

All authors

Putten, F.P. van der

Supervisor

Blussé van Oud - Alblas, J.L.; Kersten, A.E.

Qualification

Doctor (dr.)

Awarding Institution

Research School of Asian, African and Amerindian Studies (CNWS), Faculty of Humanities, Leiden University

Date

2001-05-23

Title of host publication

CNWS/LDS Publications

ISBN (print)

9057890615

Publication Series

Name

102

Juridical information

Court

Leiden