EADS, une transition inachevée. Une lecture par les catégories de la proximité

Aeronautical group European EADS had many difficulties in 2006, interpreted as “problem of governance”. This interpretation is not sufficient. We propose two complementary explanations: these difficulties of governance result from a too long distance, at the same time of a geographical and relational nature. We use a definition of proximity with spatial and non spatial dimensions to develop our argumentation. With geographical proximity, we distinguish institutional proximity and organisational proximity. First is understood as a relational availability, second as conforming and sharing institutions, third as a particular form of the preceding one which articulates political coordination and cognitive coordination. Difficulties of EADS are mainly interpreted as the result of a lack of institutional proximity.