Should a company’s nationality matter?

IN THE 1990s, as the world saw an increased ease and openness to international trade and financial flows, political scientist Robert Reich argued that corporate nationality was becoming increasingly irrelevant.

Yet, two decades later today, as the world order undergoes an inexorable shift and as people’s views become increasingly polarised, it would seem the nationality of companies matters more than ever.

Rising geopolitical contestation has given governments reason to take action against certain companies based largely on their nationality on “security grounds”.