Examines the emergence of the corporate political risk assessment function, highlighting its evolution as an integral component of strategic decision-making. Numerous country-specific and company-specific examples of political risk analysis are included.

Political assessment; genesis and context; corporate strategy; political assessment and profitability; increasing need for political assessment - the changing internationalization of business; increasing need for political assessment - the changing international environment; political assessment; comparative analysis; the theoretical underpinnings of political risk assessment; applications of political risk assessment - American corporations; applications of political risk assessment - Canadian corporations; applications of political risk assessment - West European corporations; political risk management - risk vs. opportunity; country case studies; political assessment; the future of political risk assessment.