Spanish Transnational Business: Economics and Geopolitics

Abstract

The article shows that the one of key factors of the socio-economic development of Spain in the post-Franco period was the true corporate revolution - the folding of a large group of companies whose production activities have crossed national borders and become international. The process of internationalization of Spanish business covered various sectors of the economy, including the military-industrial complex, and had an impact on the geopolitical situation of the Spanish state, it’s foreign policy. In addition, according to the author, the strengthening of the position of transnational business largely ensured Spain’s exit from the crisis of 2008-2009 and helped to overcome its severe effects. It was the increased and focused activity of local enterprises (industrial, engineering and construction companies) in foreign markets that largely compensated for the failures of domestic consumer demand, supported the level of production and ensured acceptable profitability of business activities. In general, Spanish companies, despite periodic crises, have benefited greatly from the process of globalization, have been able to adapt themselves to the international trade and economic order that prevailed at the beginning of the 21st century and have obtained profits from the existing rules of the game. Therefore, the factors of destabilization of the world economy and deglobalization were an unpleasant surprise for Spanish transnational corporations. First of all, we have in mind the turbulent processes in international markets, the UK’s exit from the European Union, the protectionist foreign economic course of the Trump administration, and, of course, the negative consequences of the coronavirus pandemic.