15566: Framing the Tightrope Walk: How Nationalism Makes Firms Speak Locally but Act Globally

Saturday, July 26, 2025

11:30 - 12:30 CEST (GMT+2)

Location: Bella Center: Hub (Purple) Poster 104

Session Type: Poster
Orientation: International,Research
Shareable link: https://cdmcd.co/jPdg4E

Author(s)

YY

YI YING

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, China
QH

Qianhui Huan

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
ZX

Zhongning Xu

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
sq

songqiao qi

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, China

Firms often face competing demands to address domestic political sentiments while pursuing a global presence. This study investigates how nationalism shapes firms’ narratives and strategic actions, balancing local and global demands. Drawing on the US-China trade war as an empirical context, we argue that nationalism compels firms to adopt domestically aligned narratives while expanding globally. Using a Difference-in-Differences design, we find that firms with U.S. ties are more likely to adopt anti-foreign rhetoric in annual reports and simultaneously establish more overseas subsidiaries. Our results reveal how firms strategically navigate the tension between nationalism at home and globalization abroad.

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