- 09 Mar 2022
- Research & Ideas
War in Ukraine: Soaring Gas Prices and the Return of Stagflation?
With nothing left to lose, Russia's invasion of Ukraine will likely intensify, roiling energy markets further and raising questions about the future of globalization, says Rawi Abdelal. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 09 Aug 2021
- Research & Ideas
OneTen: Creating a New Pathway for Black Talent
A new organization aims to help 1 million Black Americans launch careers in the next decade, expanding the talent pool. Rawi E. Abdelal, Katherine Connolly Baden, and Boris Groysberg explain how. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 17 Aug 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
Of Learning and Forgetting: Centrism, Populism, and the Legitimacy Crisis of Globalization
Cycles of liberation and regulation of global finance follow a pattern of learning and forgetting. This essay argues that liberalization and globalization created the instability and inequality that have begun to undermine the system from within.
- 23 Jun 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
Dignity, Inequality, and the Populist Backlash: Lessons from America and Europe for a Sustainable Globalization
COVID-19 has enhanced already existing fissures undermining some societies’ commitments to globalization. Governments and firms need to act decisively to make the models of capitalism in the United States and Europe more friendly to small- and medium-sized firms, more equal in opportunity, and more meritocratic.
- 07 Oct 2010
- Working Paper Summaries
The Profits of Power: Commercial Realpolitik in Eurasia
The concept of good old-fashioned realpolitik-politics primarily shaped by practicality and power-has returned to Europe, clashing with the traditional ideologies of the European Union, says Harvard Business School professor Rawi Abdelal. Citing supporting evidence from the Russian gas giant Gazprom, he argues that scholars need to pay better attention to the role of large corporations in international relations. Key concepts include: Corporate firms, not states, are responsible for the return of realpolitik in Europe. The international political economy needs a better understanding of the role that these firms play in world politics. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 07 Jul 2009
- Research Event
Business Summit: Historical Roots of Globalization
In this breakout session, panelists shared insights, informed by history, of the convergence that globalization promotes. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 11 Mar 2009
- HBS Case
The Energy Politics of Russia vs. Ukraine
A recent Harvard Business School case looks at Russia's decision in 2006 to cut off supply of natural gas to Ukraine's energy company—a move repeated this year. Is Russia just an energy bully? Students of professor Rawi Abdelal learn there is nothing black and white when it comes to Russia's energy politics. From HBS Alumni Bulletin. Key concepts include: The Western notion that Russia uses energy as a weapon is a media oversimplification of very complicated politics. Gazprom is the country's single most important company and biggest taxpayer. Because natural gas is much cleaner than oil or coal, Europe will likely become even more dependent on Russian gas. Energy can be a tool for influence but it's not an effective tool for domination. Russia will be in trouble if Europe decides to stop buying Russian gas. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 17 Dec 2008
- Lessons from the Classroom
‘Ted Levitt Changed My Life’
Many students say legendary Harvard Business School marketing professor Ted Levitt changed their lives inside his classroom and out. "Ted Levitt was the most influential and imaginative professor in marketing history," HBS professor and senior associate dean John Quelch eulogized on the occasion of Levitt's death in 2006. Colleagues and students remember a life and times. From HBS Alumni Bulletin. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 28 Feb 2007
- Research & Ideas
Capital Rules: The Tensions of Global Finance
With the start of the new decade, most global financial powers are rethinking a previously powerful trend toward liberalizing global finance. In his new book Capital Rules, Professor Rawi Abdelal charts the intellectual, legal, and political history of financial globalization, and the tensions facing today's world economy. Read an excerpt. Key concepts include: The year 1998 was the closest the world has come to establishing a consensus that capital's right to freedom applies always and everywhere. The world looks different to most financial policymakers in the twenty-first century, with many regions, and the United States in particular, adopting ad hoc measures that benefit their own interests but ignore the lessons learned from financial crises in the 1920s and 1930s. The European Commission is the only recognized international financial authority to support complete, unqualified capital mobility. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 21 Aug 2006
- Research & Ideas
How Europe Wrote the Rules of Global Finance
Following decades of liberalization, controls on cross-border capital movements are again being discussed by financial institutions, governments, and policymakers around the globe. Professor Rawi Abdelal discusses implications and the historical roles of Europe and the United States in promoting the flow of capital across national borders. Key concepts include: European policymakers, particularly the French, created regulations and enforcement that govern the majority of the world's capital flows. The U.S. has followed an ad hoc approach to capital liberalization, with no evidence it supported a liberal international financial regime. The trend toward liberalization and a lessening of capital controls on worldwide finance appears to be on the wane. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 17 Nov 2003
- Research & Ideas
Lessons from a Nasty Trade Dispute
Even if the World Trade Organization rules in favor of your country’s government, it may not mean the end of a business dispute. HBS professors Rawi Abdelal and Laura Alfaro explain why. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 16 Jun 2003
- Research & Ideas
Historical Perspective: Levitt Shaped the Debate
Theodore Levitt’s work was outrageous—and outrageously smart. HBS professors Richard S. Tedlow and Rawi Abdelal put "The Globalization of Markets" in perspective. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 14 Jan 2002
- Research & Ideas
Countries on the Cusp: The Power of Nationalism
What’s nationalism got to do with it? If you’re talking about the world economy, then the answer is quite a lot, says HBS professor Rawi Abdelal. In a conversation about his new book, Abdelal describes the power nationalism has over new countries—and its very far-reaching effects. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 26 Jun 2000
- Research & Ideas
Three Countries, Three Choices in Post-Soviet Eurasia
The experience of three states of the former Soviet Union in the shadow of post-Soviet Russia, says HBS Professor Rawi Abdelal, shows that nationalism plays a far greater role in economic policy than has generally been recognized. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
Why Quiet Quitters Need More Than Money to Re-Engage
A hefty bonus might do little to inspire a truly checked-out employee. It's time for managers to genuinely connect with their colleagues, and build more community and meaning in the workplace, say Rawi Abdelal and Thomas DeLong.