DIIS seminar: Erfaringer fra Heineken i det østlige Congo

TID: Fredag den 14. februar kl. 10-12

STED: Danish Institute for International Studies, Main Auditorium, Gammel Kalkbrænderi Vej 51A, Reception, 2100 København Ø.

Roadblock Economies, Multinationals and Conflict Dynamics: Lessons from Heineken in Eastern Congo

TID: Fredag den 14. februar kl. 10-12

STED: Danish Institute for International Studies, Main Auditorium, Gammel Kalkbrænderi Vej 51A, Reception, 2100 København Ø.

Roadblock Economies, Multinationals and Conflict Dynamics: Lessons from Heineken in Eastern Congo

Whether it concerns powdered milk from Nestlé, prepaid cellphone credit, or Heineken’s yellow gold, consumer good corporations eagerly eye the demographic boom in some of the world’s most volatile environments.

From the perspective of these multinationals (MNCs), high risk and conflict-affected areas constitute untapped markets filled with potential clients. Driven by competition for market access and supported by a market-oriented development agenda, consumer good MNCs are conquering conflict zones as fast as NGOs do.

This seminar raises the urgent question of what the increasing expansion of consumer goods companies into volatile environments entails for local conflict dynamics.

Through a discussion of his ethnographic research on Heineken, Peer Schouten suggests that local conflict actors in Eastern Congo are learning to adapt their strategies of predation to the increasing presence of consumer good MNCs. But the effects stretch far beyond Eastern Congo or Heineken and Schouten provocatively argues that we are witnessing the emergence of checkpoint economies on a global level.

These economies emerge around distribution chains, which are increasingly guarded by international private security companies that add additional complexity to local conflict dynamics.

SPEAKERS:
* Peer Schouten, PhD Candidate, University of Gothenburg
* Rens van Munster, Senior Researcher, DIIS
* Finn Stepputat, Senior Researcher, DIIS

The seminar will be held in English.

Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. Please use the online registration form no later than Thursday, 13 February 2014 at 12.00 noon.

Read more and register at: http://en.diis.dk/home/seminars/2014/roadblock+economies,+multinationals+and+conflict+dynamics-c3-+lessons+from+heineken+in+eastern+congo

Please await confirmation by e-mail from DIIS for participation.