Researchers discuss de-globalization with a Latin American perspective at BALAS 2023 conference where they emphasize the responsibility of the business and administration sector and research in understanding the environment where projects are carried out for the benefit of the actors involved.

This year, EGADE Business School hosted the Business Association for Latin American Studies (BALAS) event, which took place June 20-23 at the Tecnológico de Monterrey’s Mexico City Campus.

The recent BALAS 2023 Annual Conference, “Facing Deglobalization: Perspectives from and for Latin America,” brought together more than 150 academics, researchers and doctoral students to explore the phenomenon of deglobalization and its impact on business, with a focus on Latin America.

The conference was attended by EGADE Business School researcher and VIVA Idea Academic Outreach leader, Felipe Symmes, as well as researcher Stephanie Rüegger, representatives of VIVA Idea, who presented their thoughts and solutions to promote sustainable and responsible development in the region.

The event, organized by EGADE Business School, hosted in-person and remote presentations of 86 papers and cases presented by 156 authors from 26 different countries. Attendees discussed topics ranging from the history of management to sustainable business. During the opening session, Horacio Arredondo, dean of EGADE Business School, highlighted the importance of business research in the context of de-globalization and its impact on Latin America.

During the plenary sessions, Rajiv Maher, professor at EGADE Business School, participated in a conversation on “sustainable business”, where he shared his experience working with indigenous communities and highlighted the importance of including the perspectives of the communities affected by Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives. Maher stressed that “it is critical to listen to marginalized voices and consider unintended consequences in order to achieve sustainable and responsible development”.

Felipe Symmes highlighted the importance of collaboration between academia and industry to promote sustainable practices, as well as the permanent presence of innovation from the imagination of sustainable futures that is so successfully practiced by entrepreneurs in Latin America. According to Symmes, “we must work together to add contributions between theory and practice, listening to the voices of the communities and considering the social and environmental implications of our actions, always with the social progress of the region in mind”.

Stephanie Rüegger highlighted the need for a re-evaluation of management theories in Latin America and the importance of understanding the local context to generate meaningful research and management practices with real impact, as well as for the effective measurement of the impact of business schools in the community.

The BALAS 2023 conference provided a space for knowledge exchange, debate and the search for concrete solutions in the context of de-globalization.

Rajiv Maher, shed light on his work with indigenous communities, revealing a complex dynamic. This generated an important reflection on the need to include the perspectives of communities, especially those directly affected by Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

Understanding the views of end users and rights holders becomes critical to gaining a comprehensive understanding of globalization and its impacts. Rajiv pointed out several problems faced by these communities, such as feelings of neglect, taking on the burden for the common good, destruction of local habitats, broken promises, the phenomenon of “greenwashing” and internal divisions and conflicts within the communities.

Some of the universities that are part of BALAS are: University of San Diego, Florida International University, University of Texas Arlington, Northeastern University, University of Arizona, Universidad de Los Andes (Colombia), ESAN University, Universidad de Chile, Universidad Adolfo Ibañez (Chile), Universidad de Puerto Rico/Rio Piedras, EGADE Business School – Tecnologico de Monterrey, Universidad de La Salle (Colombia), INCAE Costa Rica, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Fundação Getulio Vargas, INSPER Brazil. Universidad ICESI (Colombia), Universidad de La Sabana/ INALDE (Colombia), Universidad del Rosario (Colombia), U. of Texas San Antonio, CETYS Universidad (Mexico), ESPAE-Espol (Ecuador), Universidad ORT (Uruguay), IESA (Venezuela), Universidad de Lima, Peru, Universidad Privada Boliviana and the Latin American Council of Management Schools (CLADEA).