Relationships and networks – events enabling and inhibiting corporate internationalisation Maria Elo Åbo Akademi University, Department of Business Studies, Schulstrasse 25, D-42653, Germany, Phone: +49 212 3825019 Jan-Åke Törnroos Åbo Akademi University, Department of Business Studies, Henriksgatan 7, FIN-20500 Turku, Finland, fax: + 358-2-2154806, Phone: +358-2-21653266 Abstract Economic-based theories and behavioural approaches have for a long time dominated the internationalisation theory of the firm. The gradual development models and learning-commitment approaches have occupied the scene. In the era of globalisation, deregulations, rapidly changing markets as well as technological change firms are facing a different possibility space than previously. This is also the case for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Internationalisation through relational networks and events related to international corporate development is presented in this paper as an avenue for research. A case study of a Finnish SME in paper business targeting the Greek market in particular is used for developing this approach. Key words: Internationalisation, Business networks, Critical events, Process research