The Second GSJ sponsored Debate Panel at AIB 2020 – online

The GSJ Co-Editors

Gabriel Benito, BI Norway; Alvaro Cuervo-Cazurra, Northeastern University; Ram Mudambi, Temple University

The debate centered on the second GSJ Best Paper.

Hennart, J-F. 2012. Emerging market multinationals and the theory of multinational enterprise. Global Strategy Journal, 2(3): 168-187.

THE MOTION:

"This House believes that the OLI paradigm cannot explain the rise of emerging market MNEs"

Speaking FOR THE MOTION: The OLI paradigm CANNOT explain the rise of EMNEs

Alain Verbeke, University of Calgary & Editor-in-Chief, JIBS

Catherine Magelssen, London Business School

Speaking AGAINST THE MOTION: The OLI paradigm CAN explain the rise of EMNEs

Rajshree Agarwal, University of Maryland & Editor, SMJ

Exequiel Hernandez, The Wharton School

The debaters gave us a true intellectual treat of cerebral sparring in the best traditions of scholastic debating. All four brought their unique talents to the discussion – the experience and perspective of the senior scholars, the drive and energy of the juniors – in a display of world-class academic excellence.

I am certain that our large audience (of over 130) took away a lot of food for thought. The evidence is plain – the number of attendees continued to rise over the first few minutes and remained steady through the entire debate – not a single person left.

Finally, as we conduct these debates along the Oxbridge lines, I report the results of the pre- and post-debate polling (More than 50 voted in both polls).

The pre-debate poll was 57% FOR and 43% AGAINST.

The post-debate poll was 50% FOR and 50% AGAINST.

However, in my mind, it was a win for the spirit of intellectual inquiry.

Warm regards,

Ram