This chapter is the first of three that describe how key aspects of a nation's business environment (culture, politics, law, and economics) affect international business activity. We introduce there topics early because of their strong influence on the way commerce is conducted indifferent countries. In fact, success in international business can often be traced directly to a deep understanding of some aspect of a people's commercial environment. This chapter (Chapter 2) explores the influence of culture on international business activity. Chapter 3 presents the impact of political and legal systems, and Chapter 4 examines the role of economic systems and development on international business. Together, these three chapters comprise Part II titled, "National Business Environment.