This is a foundational course within the overarching field of international business and international management. It explores the key external (commonly called ‘macro’) factors significantly shaping the success and failure of the daily operations and key decisions within multinational enterprises (MNEs) around the globe. This course pays especial attention to the enduring impact that the differences among the countries’ political, social, cultural, and economic systems have on MNEs’ strategic decisions. Significant attention is also paid to how the increasing interdependences among countries, organisations and individuals around the globe intensify the challenges faced by MNEs.