Uppsala Model: A Contingent Theory to Explain the Rise of EMNEs

Abstract

The Uppsala model is the result of an intellectual journey where economic-type assumptions were purged and replaced by behavioural, network relationship, dynamic capabilities, effectuation, entrepreneurship and institutional theories, theories which seemed to explain better, the internationalization process in the current business environment. This conceptual paper illustrates how the Uppsala model evolved showing adaptions it went through and discuss whether the Uppsala model is contingent enough to explain the rise of EMNEs, a phenomenon that at first, puzzled international business scholars and questioned the validity of well-established stream of thoughts in the international business community.