ABSTRACT
Multinational enterprises (MNEs) are the major drivers behind the process of globalisation. How these firms organise themselves across space is a major theme in the evolution of the global system. This chapter explores the form and nature of the MNE, seeking to account for their emergence and growth. The chapter will look at competing theories (such as the eclectic paradigm and knowledge-based views) that seek to explain the emergence of MNEs. The chapter will also seek to assess the arguments for and against the extensive involvement of MNEs within the global system.
