NATIONS, WITHIN-NATION REGIONS, AND MULTIPLE-NATION REGIONS: HOW ARE SOCIETAL BOUNDARIES SIGNIFICANT FOR INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT TODAY?

摘要

This focused issue about geographic societal boundaries aims to advance theory about the relevance of cultural differences among different kinds of geographical groups for a broad range of international management issues. It addresses one of the most central current controversies among cross cultural scholars - to what extent do national boundaries remain significant in an increasingly globalized world and to what extent have national boundaries been displaced by within-nation regions or multiple-nation clusters. Theory and research advocating the continuing substantial significance of national boundaries needs to be improved to address criticisms that nations have been overwhelmed by within-nation variability and globalization. Theory and research advocating the significance of societies with geographic identities other than nation needs to move beyond assertions supported by small scale empirical examples.