A Bibliometric Analysis and Network Mapping of The Internationalization of Family Businesses: A Co-Occurrence Analysis of Keywords

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant professor, Faculty of Economics and Management, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

2 MA Student, Faculty of Economics and Management, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

Abstract

In today's world, characterized by remarkable transformations, a turbulent and dynamic environment, complexities, and uncertainties, internationalization provides a promising pathway for the growth and long-term survival of family businesses. Over the past 25 years, studies in this field have witnessed significant growth. The goal of this study is to utilize bibliometric analysis as a structured method to understand this domain and provide a comprehensive view of research trends, authors, influential articles, and key themes. To achieve this, bibliometric analysis was performed on data obtained from the Web of Science database using the VOS Viewer software (version 1.6.20) and R software, covering the period from 2002 to 2025. This analysis encompasses 359 articles on the internationalization of family businesses. The results of this study show a distinct focus of international business journals on family businesses. Additionally, there has been an increased interest among researchers in areas such as international entrepreneurship, dynamic capabilities, entrepreneurial orientation, and socio-emotional wealth over the past six years. The co-occurrence analysis of keywords reveals six main themes: 1) Ownership structure and corporate governance 2) Socio-emotional wealth 3) Strategic management and competitive advantage 4) The impact of internationalization on firm performance 5) Market entry modes 6) Entrepreneurial orientation.

Keywords

Main Subjects

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Journal of International Businesses Administration
Volume 8, Issue 4
May 2026
Pages 59-90

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History

  • Receive Date: 05 January 2026
  • Revise Date: 07 May 2026
  • Accept Date: 16 May 2026

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