Privatization, industry integration and international politics: The case of energy and the role of business leadership in South America

详细信息   

• 作者：Mireur ; Yannick
• 学历：Doctor
• 年：2000
• 关键词：Social sciences ; Applied sciences ; Privatization ; Ind
• 导师：Thompson,W Scott
• 毕业院校：Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
• 专业：Political science;Social structure;Energy;Business community;Political economy;Studies;Energy industry;Privatization
• ISBN：9780599805491,0599805498
• CBH：9975027
• 语种：English
• FileSize：15207789
• Pages：280

文摘

This thesis analyzes how matters traditionally decided by states because deemed strategic such as cross-border physical energy integration,are now the product of corporate strategy. As a direct result of state divestiture implemented in the scope of a changing model of political economy,corporate bodies have taken on an increasingly important role in the achievement of regional integration. The privatization and ownership transfer of a strategic industry,namely energy,has indeed positioned the private sector at the forefront of regional economic affairs. The study also points out the political impact of private sector-driven projects of infrastructure,particularly between two countries that have been separated by strong antagonism in the recent past,the launching of regional energy integration by private companies has provided the substance that was lacking to governments,even though these were willing to operate a rapprochement. The parameters of foreign policy decisions have been modified and rapprochement has been accelerated as a result of initiatives from the private sector. The thesis thus explores the links between the adoption of a neo-liberal political economy that includes the privatization of the energy sector,regional energy integration,and foreign relations. It analyzes how the transformation of transnational economic ties usually derived from decisions of state can now be the product of private business deals. It emphasizes the role of corporate executives in carrying out projects and shaping a new economic reality that governments have proved to be unable or unwilling to create in the past. Its focus is the Chile-Argentina energy integration process and rapprochement in the nineties. The spread of neo-liberalism in the Southern Cone has taken place in a time of waning alternative discourse on development strategy in the international public arena and of acute sense of development imperative in the so-called emerging economies. The thesis argues that in such context political regime differences matter less than the convergence of models of political economy between two countries whose energy needs and energy resources complement each other. The methodology is qualitative. The thesis is based on first-hand information gathered through research work in Chile and Argentina and dozens of interviews of energy executives,political leaders,diplomats,economists and journalists. In conclusion,the thesis suggests that the Chile-Argentina case can have policy implications as it could help to explain and/or promote corporate-based cooperation with political spillovers in other regions of the world.