Big business as political actors: FIAT, SEAT and VAZ in nationalist economic contexts (1940–1973)

This paper explores the interactions between big companies and authoritarian regimes operating under economic nationalism during periods of economic and political transition. Focusing on FIAT, SEAT and VAZ in the automotive industry, it shows how Spain and the USSR leveraged FIAT’s technology to support national industrialisation through politically isolated periods. In the 1940s, economic nationalism evolved in Spain from private oligopolies to state-led industrialisation through public enterprises, while in the 1960s the USSR combined selective global engagement with Soviet ideology to achieve industrial objectives. FIAT’s political capabilities allowed the company to navigate ideological divides, fostering influence in Cold War contexts. These cases highlight economic nationalism as an evolving, relational concept shaped by multinationals’ strategic actions, offering insights on its evolution across different political landscapes.