The international business landscape: a look at paradigms, research gaps and new realities

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse international business (IB) scholarship and present current gaps and new realities to enhance scholarly discourse. Design/methodology/approach – The paper divides the scholarship into three distinct sections. First, it interrogates the changing definitions of the field from the 1880s to date. Secondly, IB paradigms are cross-examined while highlighting the understudied emerging interaction paradigm. Lastly, literature gaps, methodological gaps and new realities in IB are presented. Findings – This research shows that IB inquiry has concentrated on firm-level paradigms, leaving the emerging interaction paradigm understudied. As a result, there is a deficit of novel ideas and limited research on critical emerging issues affecting IB. Further, simplistic methodologies are prevalent, making IB scholarship weak. Additionally, a majority of studies concentrate on the Americas, Europe and Asia, leaving Africa understudied. Originality/value – This research augments the need for scholars to cross-examine the best approach to apply in IB discourse and presents gaps calling for new insights and future research directions.

Keywords

• International business
• International business paradigms
• Research gaps
• International trade
• Eclectic paradigm
• Emerging interaction paradigm