DSPO 22A25 - The GAFAM of China? BATX as global economic and strategic actors

BATX is an acronym for Xiaomi, Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent. They are the four largest tech companies in China. Each of the four has long dominated the Chinese market and is now also going global. The Chinese government has mostly supported the BATX enterprises while erecting barriers for their western competitors, GAFAM, and other tech companies so that BATX can expand securely and become significant as quickly as feasible. By playing their cards well and avoiding competition from foreign companies, the BATX were able to thrive and grow internationally. If BATX are often compared to GAFAM (Google/Alphabet, Apple, Facebook/Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft), they are actually very different and have developed their own (very) efficient strategies to conquer more and more market and play a growing geopolitical role. BATX are becoming more than just firms and have a growing global geostrategic and economic power.

Jan STORMANN,Jean LANGLOIS BERTHELOT

Séminaire

English

Spring 2022-2023

To validate the course, the student is expected to pass the following assignments: 1°) Oral evaluation: a 2 or 3 student team selects a subject from a defined list and presents it for 20 minutes. 2°) Reading report: the student selects a book in a list and then explains the main topic of the book in a 5-6 pages report. 3°) Mid-term group work : During week 8, Groups of 5-8 students have to prepare a note together on a subject related to th course. They use the methodology learned in the previous courses and show their ability to write a strategic note in the right fashion and under limited time. The groups present their notes during the second hour of the course. 4° ) Final Exam : Individual oral examination on a subject studied during the course. Open-books/courses is allowed. 15 minutes preparation, 15 minutes restitution. All grades have the same coefficient.

Lectures, Debate, Group Work In the end of the course the student will be able to: 1°) Develop an advanced understanding of the domain of new technologies in China 2°) Apprehend China cutting-edge technologies advances in a comparative perspective 3°) Understand the relations between BATX and the Chinese government 4°) Develop methods in international political economy