Centralization and autonomy: back to the future

Using Brooke’s (Centralization and autonomy. A study in organization behaviour, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, London and New York, 1984) work as a starting point, this article provides an evaluation and critique of the literature on centralization and autonomy, with particular reference to the multinational (MNE) subsidiary. While valuable and insightful, research has not evolved in a systematic way. Terms are used loosely and imprecisely and cause and effect relationships are unclear. The paper identifies gaps in the literature, proposes a new research agenda, and presents implications for host country policy.