Liability of Foreignness in Historical Context: German Business in Preindependence India (1880–1940)
本文通过分析独立前印度德国跨国企业的历史案例，质疑了“外来者劣势”的基本假设，强调国籍的具体性、母国与东道国态度的冲突以及跨国溢出效应，对国际商务理论提出批判性补充。
Much of international business literature has dealt with the costs of engaging in business abroad. Recently, several authors have called into question the basic assumptions of the “liability of foreignness” argument. They plead for a more nuanced look at nationality beyond the dichotomy of foreign vis-à-vis local firms and raise doubts about the assumption that more distance necessarily translates into higher costs. This article adds to this criticism with a historical analysis of German multinational enterprises in preindependence India. The case proves (1) the relevance of specific nationalities, (2) the importance of conflicting host and home country attitudes for understanding multinationals’ strategy, and (3) the possibility of spillover effects across national borders. Expanding on existing theory, the article makes a point in showing how malleable and contextual associations with nationality are, thus making a thorough historical analysis of commercial, political, and cultural links between host and home country indispensable.