The realm of legitimacy literature places a specific emphasis on scrutinizing the intricate nexus between legitimacy and internationalization, particularly due to the imperative faced by organizations engaged in international operations to penetrate novel markets, overcoming inherent challenges within the internationalization process. Employing bibliometric analysis, this study examines the intersection of legitimacy and internationalization from 2008 to 2023, incorporating 1,554 documents and 84,241 references. The outcome of this analysis delineates the intellectual structure of this area of knowledge, elucidating nine primary research clusters and the evolution of the field research. Furthermore, we identify future research trajectories, providing insights into unexplored dimensions within the field. Future research aims to refine legitimacy measurement methods, broaden perspectives beyond Western firms, analyze internal legitimacy and stakeholder influence, explore sustainability, enhance communication strategies, and develop new internationalization models. This comprehensive synthesis contributes to an enhanced understanding of the dynamic interplay between legitimacy and internationalization, offering valuable implications for strategic decision-making and planning.
González et al. (2025) studied this question.