MNEs and policy networks: Institutional embeddedness and strategic choice

Political strategies are a crucial matter for MNEs in the context of globalization. We argue that MNEs’ influence on political decision-making depends on their insertion into policy networks, which define the institutional framework and the interaction patterns of business/government relations in different issue-areas. Then, we propose a stylized taxonomy regarding the differentiation of MNEs’ political leverage in various domains, at a home country level. Finally, we explore the influence of political power at home on MNEs’ strategic approaches to the host countries, taking into account the bargaining power of local actors in the concerned issue-areas.