Why Intel’s big news matters—and what it says about U.S. tech policy
When SoftBank announced a $2 billion investment in Intel this week, Wall Street cheered. Intel’s stock jumped more than 5%, and headlines buzzed about the company’s comeback in the global chip race. But behind the numbers is a bigger story—one that could reshape how the U.S. government interacts with private industry.That’s where Hamilton Lugar School’s Sarah Bauerle Danzman comes in. Speaking to the BBC, Bauerle Danzman explained why reports that the U.S. might take a 10% stake in Intel are so significant. “This would be a major escalation,” she said, noting that such a move could set a “concerning precedent” by blurring the line between business decisions and political agendas.
Why does this matter? Chips aren’t just about powering your laptop—they’re the backbone of everything from AI to national security. Intel is one of the few U.S. companies that can manufacture advanced semiconductors at scale, and Washington wants to keep that capability at home. But as Bauerle Danzman points out, government ownership in a private company raises tough questions: How far should the state go to secure supply chains? And what happens when politics enters the boardroom?
Bauerle Danzman’s insights cut through the noise, helping us understand the stakes in this high-tech, high-power game. It’s not just about Intel—it’s about the future of U.S. industrial policy, the relationship between states and markets, democratic governance and rule of law, and the global economy.
HLS students can learn more about these crucial questions in a range of courses and degree offerings at the school. Bauerle Danzman regularly teaches INTL I103 Global Business, INTL I310 Global Economic Governance, and 400-level specialty courses on foreign investment, development, and geoeconomic statecraft.
Read the full BBC article or explore more of Bauerle Danzman’s research on economic security and global investment at the Hamilton Lugar School.