Unpacking emotions in SME internationalisation: towards a multilevel theoretical framework and research agenda

Purpose Scholars have increasingly recognised the significant role emotions play in decision-making within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Nevertheless, the incorporation of emotion research into internationalisation of SMEs remains fragmented and theoretically underdeveloped. To advance the current debate, this study addresses three research questions: (1) What themes drive research on emotions in SMEs' internationalisation? (2) Which implicit assumptions structure this research? and (3) What theoretical blind spots emerge from these assumptions? Design/methodology/approach This study adopts a problematising review methodology and critically analyses and synthesises conceptual and empirical studies from the SME internationalisation and emotion literatures, published over the last two decades. Through an in-depth critical discussion and integration, the study examines how emotions have been theorised in SME internationalisation research and encourages closer scrutiny of the assumptions underpinning existing explanations. Findings The study discusses emotions across the pre-entry, entry and post-entry stages of SME internationalisation and identifies three core assumptions that remain largely unarticulated and insufficiently scrutinised. Building on these insights and integrating perspectives from the broader emotion literature, the study develops a theoretical framework and proposes exemplary research questions to support future research. Originality/value Rather than merely synthesising prior research, this study problematises the assumptions shaping how emotions have been theorised in SME internationalisation. By identifying implicit theoretical assumptions, it demonstrates that dominant explanations have remained primarily cognitively oriented while overlooking the emotional dynamics accompanying decision-making under uncertainty. The study offers an alternative conceptual framing that positions emotions as dynamic mechanisms shaping internationalisation decisions across time and context.