This thesis is about the study of the impact of responses from (civil) society, the economic market and the national political sphere on the success of cross-border joint ventures in China. Through...Show moreThis thesis is about the study of the impact of responses from (civil) society, the economic market and the national political sphere on the success of cross-border joint ventures in China. Through this study, it will be established that responses from the aforementioned sectors do indeed impact the realization of cross-border joint ventures in China. The origin and role of these responses in facilitating international corporate interaction will also be assessed. Because of the lack of research on cross-border Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) in China, literature has been selected from a variety of perspectives and disciplines. The societal responses have been grouped in three different foci through which the research has been done: (1) external risks inherent to joint ventures and M&A in general, that in the context of the Chinese market are extra compromising; (2) the controlling practices and narrative of the economic nationalist agenda of the Chinese government; (3) (media) discourses and practices that code the consumption of foreign products and/or services through the lens of consumer nationalism. Leading from these foci and the establishment of the existence of an impact, the research question has been tackled from different angles through e.g. case studies, sub-questions and a counterargument. The intended purpose of this enquiry is to contribute to an underdeveloped research field and also aid practitioners’ understanding of Chinese M&A so they can better anticipate and design their cross-border joint ventures in China.Show less