The role of business actors in resource extraction in developing countries is an understudied topic of research for development studies. The framework of valuation languages and socio-environmental conflicts is useful for studying the values of actors involved in conflicts concerning resource extraction, but previous studies do not sufficiently discuss how to measure the concept. This thesis investigates which values are expressed by Vattenfall, a Swedish state-owned company, in relation to the extraction of coal that it purchases from Colombia. To do this, the thesis draws on qualitative analysis of ideas to construct an analytical tool aimed at making valuation languages more measurable and applies it to the case of Vattenfall. The thesis finds that Vattenfall expresses a wide range of monetary and non-monetary values, but this is not sufficient to say that it uses any particular valuation language. Moreover, the company views environmental conflicts as solvable within the single standard of monetary valuation and ignores power asymmetries. The analytical tool is found to be insufficient for identifying valuation languages on its own, but successful in making them more measurable.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to extend the knowledge on how Swedish companies canbecome more embedded in the Chinese market by building relationships with political actors. Research question: How do Swedish managers develop and maintain relations with politicalactors in China, and how do they perceive the outcomes from such relations? Method: Qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews. Results: The results of the study shows that managers initially use local middlemen orconsultancies to get in contact with political actions. Further, they participate in variousactivities to build upon and develop that relationship, something that is argued by therespondents to be more time-consuming and extensive than in western countries. The outcomeof having these relationships is that firm could gain a competitive edge and the managers tobecome more efficient in their role. Contribution: This study contributes with additional research to the Extended BusinessNetwork and relationship building with non-business actors in China from a Swedishmanagerial perspective.