A Systematic Review of Theories on Family Business Internationalization

Objective: Due to globalization, its economic impacts, and the capacity of family businesses to create socio-emotional value on an international scale, this study aims to establish a comprehensive theoretical framework for the internationalization of family businesses.Methods: Using a mixed-methods approach, 1,727 articles from the Web of Science database were identified over a decade, and 42 relevant theories were systematically reviewed. A subsequent narrative review further examines these theories in the context of family business internationalization.Results: These theories are categorized through two approaches: first, a multidisciplinary approach, which includes general management theories, internationalization theories, and family business-specific frameworks; and second, an interdisciplinary approach, organizing these theories within the framework of theoretical evolution. This evolutionary process starts with theory building, continues with theory development, and concludes with theory testing.Conclusions: The primary contribution of this study is the identification of core assumptions within each theory related to family business internationalization. Additionally, by extracting key concepts based on content correlation, this research presents a conceptual model that enhances understanding of the theoretical framework and highlights gaps in the evolution of these theories. These findings provide a valuable foundation for future research in the dynamic and evolving field of family business internationalization.