Brazilian corporations, the state and transnational activity: introduction to the special issue Andreas Nölke Department of Social Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Germany Abstract Purpose – The aim of the paper is to introduce a special issue which looks at the collaboration between the Brazilian state and Brazilian corporations with regard to the transnational activities of the latter. Design/methodology/approach – Departing from the state of the art of current studies of emerging market multinationals, the paper highlights the need for interdisciplinary work to understand the particular role of the state with regard to the outward expansion of these companies. The paper then highlights the different approaches the ive papers of the special issue have taken to address this task. Findings – Although Brazil can be counted among the most liberal emerging markets, the special issue inds a very close cooperation between the Brazilian state and Brazilian multinationals. The former helps to inance overseas expansion of Brazilian multinationals, supports the solution of conlicts with the governments of neighboring countries and articulates the interests of Brazilian multinationals in global governance. The problems created by this close cooperation rather materialize with third parties, in particular with somewhat poorer countries in the Brazilian neighborhood, but also with smaller companies, consumers or radical social movements in Brazil. Originality/value – The paper shows the diversity of approaches that an interdisciplinary cooperation between Political Science, Political Economy, Development Studies and International Business can mobilize to make sense of very close state-business cooperation with regard to transnational activities of emerging markets multinationals. Keywords Emerging markets, Brazil, Multinational corporations, State capitalism Paper type General Review Introduction The rise of multinational corporations (MNCs) from emerging markets has been a major development during the past decade. Publications such as the United National Conference of Trade and Development World Investment Report, the Fortune Global 500 and the FT Global 500 indicate the increasing share of these companies among the world’s largest multinationals. This development not only relates to Brazil, Russia, India and China but also comprises companies from countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey and others. Research for this special issue has been supported by the COST Action IS905 “Emergence of Southern Multinationals and their Impact on Europe” as well as by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/DFG, NO 855/3-1) via the project “A BICS Variety of Capitalism? The Emergence of State-Permeated Market Economies in Large Emerging Markets”. I very gratefully acknowledge most helpful support from Louis Brennan, Johannes Petry and Jack Copley. The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at www.emeraldinsight.com/1742-2043.htm CPOIB 10,4 230 critical perspectives on international business Vol. 10 No. 4, 2014 pp. 230-236 © Emerald Group Publishing Limited 1742-2043 DOI 10.1108/cpoib-03-2014-0015