Abstract
Who governs International Branch Campuses? This systematic review synthesizes literature from 2000-2025 to answer this question. Drawing on stakeholder theory and resource dependence theory, we analyze power sources of five key stakeholder groups, identify three power configuration patterns, and explore power operation mechanisms. Three research gaps are identified: limited understanding of power dynamics over time, insufficient attention to micro-mechanisms of power exercise, and lack of research on institutional corrective mechanisms. The review offers a conceptual framework and directions for future research.