Waking from Mao’s Dream: Communist Ideological Imprinting and the Internationalization of Entrepreneurial Ventures in China

This article examines how ideological imprints formed through past political experiences continue to shape entrepreneurial decision-making. Using longitudinal data on Chinese private entrepreneurs, the authors show that communist ideological imprinting can discourage firms from attracting foreign investment and expanding internationally. However, credible information and policy signals from the Chinese government can weaken this effect. The study contributes to research on organizational imprinting, political ideology, entrepreneurship, and firm internationalization.