Governing for the Corporations: History and Analysis of U.S. Promotion of Foreign Investment
11 Pages Posted: 27 Jun 2014
Date Written: May 6, 2013
Abstract
This paper explores and analyzes U.S. government support for foreign investors, especially major oil companies.
Throughout the 20th Century the US government has repeatedly used its international political influence to benefit US corporate activities abroad. The US government and others assumed initially that this was in the larger interests of the United States because US companies would represent and promote the United States’ policy agenda.
However, US corporate activities abroad over the last century seem to indicate this assumption was flawed. In numerous examples, US corporations have either ignored or thwarted the stated interests of the US government. At first glance, however, the US government still seems to embrace the assumption by continuing to act on behalf its corporations’ foreign investments.
Keywords: foreign investment, oil politics
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