Abstract Traditional channel research takes channel dyad as the analysis unit but neglects the role of channel network. This paper integrates two important network variables, i.e., network density and centrality into a framework of channel power, conflict and cooperation, and empirically tests the impacts of dealer’s network structure on manufacturer’s use of power from the perspective of structural embeddedness. The research findings show that both dealer’s network density and centrality have positive effects on manufacturer’s use of non-coercive power while showing no significant effects on coercive power use. The research findings are valuable for exploring the path from dyadic analysis to network analysis of channel behavioral research.
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