Amman, Oct. 11 (Petra) — Under the patronage and in the presence of
HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal, President of the Arab Thought Forum
(ATF), the forum hosted a lecture on Sunday by renowned British
historian and author William Dalrymple, titled “The Irresistible Rise
of the East India Company: Contemporary Lessons in Dealing with
Hyper-Powerful Corporations.”

The event, attended by HRH Princess Sarvath El Hassan and HRH
Princess Rahma bint El Hassan, alongside several royal family
members, former ministers, and prominent intellectual figures,
examined the historical rise of the British East India Company and
its transformation from a commercial enterprise into a dominant
political and military power across vast parts of the Indian
subcontinent. The session highlighted the interplay between economic
interests and political authority, as well as the impact of
mega-corporations on global balances of power.

The lecture addressed key historical lessons relevant to modern
challenges, particularly the growing influence of multinational
corporations, the dynamic between economic clout and governance
institutions, and the vital role of regulatory frameworks in
balancing corporate interests with the public good.

Dalrymple is among the world’s leading historians on the Indian
subcontinent and East-West historical relations. He is the author of
*The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company* (2019),
which chronicles the company’s evolution into a colonial power and
underscores the consequences when commercial entities wield political
and military power far exceeding their traditional economic remit.

The lecture concluded with an open discussion on the historical and
contemporary dimensions of corporate influence in modern global
politics and economics.

//Petra// AF