Whatsit Wednesday - Mega Corporations

These days we all understand that we have to deal with mega corporations. Many of us use social media. We keep connected with family and friends through all types of channels. I can still remember MySpace and the Dutch version of social media in the beginning, Hyves. These days one has to be connected to several different social media channels in order to be in contact with the various groups. Young people won’t be found dead on some, and older people (Boomers) are not as savvy on others. 

Most of us use the internet to an immense degree. I remember thrilling in the chance to read an encyclopedia. I don’t know how many people still know what an encyclopedia is. But almost everyone knows what Wikipedia is. And if we have a question, the first thing we do is “Google it”. While these are all very recent innovations, the idea of mega corporations is not a modern thing (depending on how far back you want to go to define “modern”). 

The VOC was the “Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie” or the United East India Company, more often known in English as the Dutch East India Company. This company, established in 1602, became much more than a company. It was the first company in which you could be a shareholder, you could buy stock in the company (which could be bought and sold in what would become the Amsterdam Stock Exchange - but that is a different story). 

This company became a megalith with powers to wage war, sign treaties, establish colonies and even strike its own coins. It influenced all of Asia at the time and established markets and cultures that still resonate throughout the world today. Its atrocities resound throughout history as well and should sound a warning. But many are not willing to listen to history, often thinking it only a telling of old tales instead of a warning for future behavior. 

In more modern times we see a few other mega corporations under the Dutch flag. Unilever makes food under many different brands and is partially Dutch. ASML is a Dutch company that has been in the news most recently because of international tensions. They make machines that make chips - computer chips. Much of what they need for their machines is made in Taiwan. If Taiwan were to be taken over by China, the supply of computer chips (which are now used in almost everything) would cease to be as free as it is now. 

So while we are enjoying eating a bag of chips, googling something on our computer or phone or sharing some little tidbit on our social media, we might want to remember what such a corporation can do across the globe.