Moderated by François Ewald
The dynamics of globalisation have long conveyed the image of a “global” company, setting up in a wide diversity of countries as investment opportunities arise so as to better serve the interests, not of a nation, but of shareholders who are themselves multinational.
That said, could the current resurgence of protectionist and mercantilist rationales, particularly in the United States and China, be reshuffling the decks? In a world where large Chinese and American companies are asserting and professing national ownership to better serve the converging interests of their shareholders and their country of origin, is this vision of a stateless company still relevant?
Furthermore, for a company, what does it mean to have a nationality today? Can Europe provide adequate conditions for its existence?
Finally, at a time when companies are growing increasingly aware of their social and societal responsibility, should not the profession of a national affiliation be a prerequisite for the affirmation of their “raison d’être”?
Click here to read the Proceedings of the Meetings of 18 December 2019
