What does this research mean for the field?

Multinational enterprises manage bilateral geopolitical tensions by deploying four distinct national identity rhetorical strategies (augmenting-localizing, augmenting-globalizing, ambiguating, and affirming), the use of which is driven by the level of geopolitical tension and the firm's resource dependence on the host economy. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine how multinational enterprises navigate external communication and manage national identity rhetoric when conflicting geopolitical pressures pit home and host audiences against each other.

August 28, 2026Journal of International Business StudiesOpen Access

National identity rhetoric under bilateral geopolitical tensions: evidence from Taiwanese MNEs

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Authors

JKJin‐Su Kang SKSunghoon Kim CLChuan‐Kai Lee

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Overview

Longitudinal analysis reveals strategic identity rhetoric in multinational enterprises, highlighting how geopolitical tensions and host-market resource reliance shape corporate communication.

Key Points

To examine how multinational enterprises navigate external communication and manage national identity rhetoric when conflicting geopolitical pressures pit home and host audiences against each other.
Analyzed longitudinal public communication data from 2001 to 2020 for two Taiwan-originated multinational enterprises (Foxconn and TSMC) operating across the Taiwan Strait.
Evaluated corporate rhetorical shifts relative to fluctuations in bilateral geopolitical tensions and levels of firm resource dependence on the host economy.
Identified four distinct rhetorical strategies used to manage national affiliation: augmenting-localizing, augmenting-globalizing, ambiguating, and affirming.
Demonstrated qualitatively that escalating geopolitical tensions intensify demands on firms to actively calibrate home identity, while higher resource dependence on the host market increases accommodation of host audiences.

Cite This Study

Kang et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a914613d15324a1df3a9717 https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-026-00898-z

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August 28, 2026Journal of International Business StudiesOpen Access

National identity rhetoric under bilateral geopolitical tensions: evidence from Taiwanese MNEs

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

JKJin‐Su Kang SKSunghoon Kim CLChuan‐Kai Lee

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Longitudinal analysis reveals strategic identity rhetoric in multinational enterprises, highlighting how geopolitical tensions and host-market resource reliance shape corporate communication.

Key Points

To examine how multinational enterprises navigate external communication and manage national identity rhetoric when conflicting geopolitical pressures pit home and host audiences against each other.
Analyzed longitudinal public communication data from 2001 to 2020 for two Taiwan-originated multinational enterprises (Foxconn and TSMC) operating across the Taiwan Strait.
Evaluated corporate rhetorical shifts relative to fluctuations in bilateral geopolitical tensions and levels of firm resource dependence on the host economy.
Identified four distinct rhetorical strategies used to manage national affiliation: augmenting-localizing, augmenting-globalizing, ambiguating, and affirming.
Demonstrated qualitatively that escalating geopolitical tensions intensify demands on firms to actively calibrate home identity, while higher resource dependence on the host market increases accommodation of host audiences.

Cite This Study

Kang et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a914613d15324a1df3a9717 https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-026-00898-z

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark