Corporations

Corporations, Social Structures, and the Future The money power preys upon the nation in times of peace and conspires against it in times of adversity. It is more despotic than monarchy. More insolent than autocracy. More selfish than bureaucracy. I see in the near future, a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. Corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed." -U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, 1864 Many science fiction authors have presented a future in which multi-national corporations rule, in which governments have little power, and people even less. To some degree, that future already exists - and our current forms of government and law support an even greater amassing of power and money by corporations. Corporations affect our environment, our politics, our jobs, health, education, entertainment, and access to information. In doing so they are determining our lives in concrete ways now, as well as structuring the future we will all live in. Is this good? Are corporate structures as a primary building block of human civilization the best path for human potential? Many would argue no... Ralph Nader, for instance has attacked corporate behavior as part of his presidential campaign (see links below) - but others claim corporations are the best tool for transferring wealth from rich to poor nations and peoples. Even if the latter is true, it may only be true in the current societal structures, and not as the best overall path. What if we wish to change our current path? Many would argue that corporations are not the right scale or agent for change - that change needs to happen via individuals rather than institutions. We argue that change needs to occur at many scales - in both individuals and in our corporate (and other) institutions - to create the future we'd like to live in. What do you think? The resources below are good starting points for thinking about these issues and beyond, to what kinds of social and economic structures we want to be organizing and creating our world. Links, readings and info: Corporations have only been around for 500 years or so- check out how we got to where we are today, including rulings on corporate 'personhood' at Chronology of Incorporation and Monopoly compiled by George Draffan. Eleven Inherent Rules of Corporate Behavior details the driving forces underlying corporate behavior, which we must be cognizant of to understand why they are shaping our cultures as well as our economics. Corporate watchdogs on the web: Corporate Europe Observatory - "targeting the threats to democracy, equity, social justice and the environment posed by the economic and political power of corporations and their lobby groups". See Corporate watch for "resources designed to help you find out more than you probably ever wanted to know about transnational corporations". Their Key Issues and Organizations page gives a massive number of links to industries (like tobacco,nuclear, pharmaceutical), and the corporations, organizations, and issues involved in each. An excellent resource. A principal danger of corporations is their effect on our political structure (big money can subvert the political process) and public policy (trade agreements, healthcare). Documentation of corporate impacts on U.S. government and policy can be found at Corporations and U.S. Politics - the Big Picture. Ralph Nader presents his integrated view on the evils of corporation, at Ending Corporate Governance. Especially check out the excellent Recommended Reading List. See how corporations can support better societies, sustainable development, and a more, rather than less, desirable world: Corporations and Sustainable Development by sustainability expert Jay Forrest; and When Corporations Rule the World by David Korten - highly recommended. Some other great sites on corporations: A Primer on Incorporation and Monopoly Corporate Accountability Project --Of the world's 100 largest economies, 51 are now global corporations, rather than countries. Overview of corporate law Corporate evasion of responsibilities and dues Student Alliance to Reform Corporations Corporations That Own Our Media Corporations and Fair Trade - with links to corporations and human rights, children, the environment, and more Corporate Anthroculture Innovative thinking and data on corporations Current News on Corporations Multinational corporations and human rights Corporate Europe Observer newszine We are where we are as a consequence of intentional decisions made by human beings. There is nothing inevitable about it. We as human beings can make different choices and create different economic institutions to institutionalize different values and create different dynamics. --David Korten, Life After Capitalism

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