Emerging markets: exploring the diversity of theories, practices and applications

The articles in this special issue of the International Journal of Emerging Markets are a selection of the best papers from the International Management Research Academy (IMRA; www.imraweb.org) 2012 conference held in London in May 2012. This conference was dedicated to research carried out by scholars located in emerging markets from regions across the world. The papers represent a cross-section of studies from three regions: Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia. The theme of the conference was: Emerging Markets and the New Dynamics of Management. Emerging markets are diverse in terms of their political economies, population, legal infrastructure, technological advancements and cultures, yet they tend to be grouped together by business and academic commentators and researchers. However, there are significant differences and divergences in emerging markets between the rich, emerging middle class and the poor with the latter making up the majority of the population. Suffering from the problems of inadequate infrastructures several of these countries are the source of "resourceful" innovators and entrepreneurs. Innovative technologies such as mobile telephony and renewable energy sources are being adopted rapidly. This diversity and specific characteristics we believe need to be better understood particularly in terms of how organizations, managers, entrepreneurs are practicing management and how scholars based in these countries are developing new knowledge, theory and reporting on management practice