This study explores how corporate and political opportunity structures shape the internationalization of social activism against firms. Open corporate structures—marked by transparent governance, stakeholder engagement, and inclusivity—attract localized activism through dialogue and pathways for grievance resolution. In contrast, closed structures, resistant to engagement, push activists toward resource-intensive transnational campaigns. We propose that the geographic scope of activism is shaped by the interplay of corporate and political opportunity structures. Open political systems offering supportive legal frameworks and accessible policy mechanisms, enable local activism, even against closed corporate structures. Conversely, when both corporate and political structures are closed, activists are more likely to escalate their efforts to the international stage, leveraging transnational networks and alliances to amplify pressure. Using a dataset of activism events (2011–2022), we find robust support for our hypotheses. This study enhances understanding of how firm governance and political environments influence activist strategies globally.
