Transnational Corporations as Global Political Actors: A Literature Review

Abstract

Uhlin, A. Transnational Corporations as Global Political Actors: A Literature Review. Cooperation and Conflict, XXIII, 1988, 231-247. The primary aim of this research note is to present an inventory of propositions and findings concerning TNCs as global political actors. As a framework for this analysis I will classify the literature into three main groups and some subgroups. The three main theoretical schools compared are liberal theory, mercantilist theory and theories of imperialism. Several aspects of the autonomy and power of TNCs, as proponents of different theoretical schools see it, are analysed. The domain and scope of TNC power are discussed and several power bases are listed. Constraints that prevent the potential power of TNCs from being implemented are discussed and TNC instruments for exercising power are listed as well. The scope of the theoretical perspectives used to study TNCs varies. There is need for a synthesis between the actor-oriented liberal approaches and the structural and system-oriented theories of imperialism.