Types of Corporate Political Strategy Employed by Firms investing in Chinese Football

This final of three empirical chapter applies the Corporate Political Strategy typology to the interview data, identifying the distinct strategies through which firms seek to manage state relations via football investment. It distinguishes six strategic orientations. Port in a storm captures crisis-driven football engagement used to secure political protection. Opportunist encounter refers to one-off advantage-seeking when new openings arise. Committed relationship describes long-term, trust-based cooperation between entrepreneurs and officials in some cases involving the trailing of clubs after an official's relocation. Teacher's pet denotes visible, policy-aligned loyalty and public demonstrations of compliance through football-related activities. All on red involves embedding within the state apparatus through its government, corporate and football institutions. Finally, Concerned counsel represents attempts to influence policy via public or private advice. Together, these strategies map the range of non-market behaviours that underpin state-business exchange.