Methodological nationalism and subjective control: an inquiry on networks of directors and shareholders in France and Spain

Abstract

This research explores two theoretical problems that are deeply connected: the concept of control in corporation’s governance and the methodological nationalism implicit in the kind of data sets used in most structural analysis of economic power. As an empirical support four networks are used: interlocking directorate’s networks of French and Spanish largest firms and the networks of the same corporations in both countries related by common investors. The consequences of choosing one or another kind of relations – interlocking directorates or common investors- on the national character of nationally selected data are analyzed. It appears that the consideration of networks built using the main shareholders of each firm leads to the blurring of the initial national selection of the corporations. And also, challenges standing ideas on the concept of control of corporation’s activity.