Corporatocracy
Encyclopedia
Corporatocracy, in social theories that focus on conflicts and opposing interests within society, denotes a system of government
that serves the interest of, and may be run by, corporation
s and involves ties between government and business. Where corporations, conglomerate
s, and/or government entities with private components, control the direction and governance
of a country, including carrying out economic planning (notwithstanding the "free market" label).
"The prospect of domination of the nation's scholars by Federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is ever present – and is gravely to be regarded."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower Farewell Address to the Nation January 17, 1961
Form of government
A form of government, or form of state governance, refers to the set of political institutions by which a government of a state is organized. Synonyms include "regime type" and "system of government".-Empirical and conceptual problems:...
that serves the interest of, and may be run by, corporation
Corporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
s and involves ties between government and business. Where corporations, conglomerate
Conglomerate (company)
A conglomerate is a combination of two or more corporations engaged in entirely different businesses that fall under one corporate structure , usually involving a parent company and several subsidiaries. Often, a conglomerate is a multi-industry company...
s, and/or government entities with private components, control the direction and governance
Governance
Governance is the act of governing. It relates to decisions that define expectations, grant power, or verify performance. It consists of either a separate process or part of management or leadership processes...
of a country, including carrying out economic planning (notwithstanding the "free market" label).
Concept
The concept of corporatocracy is that corporations, to a significant extent, have massive power over governments, including those governments nominally elected by the people. They exercise their power via corporate monopolies and mergers, and through their subsequent capacity to leverage broad economic interests, which allows them the luxury of being declared "too big to fail"; this is accomplished by legal mechanisms (i.e., lobbyists, campaign contributions to office holders and candidates, threats to leave the state or country for another with less oversight and/or more personally beneficial subsidies, etc.), which renders them immune to vague accusations and prosecution. It may also refer to an unrealized form of government or theoretical corporate governance in national or international affairs.Usage
- U.S. President Dwight D. EisenhowerDwight D. EisenhowerDwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
argued against the strengthening corporatocracy in the form of a military-industrial complexMilitary-industrial complexMilitary–industrial complex , or Military–industrial-congressional complex is a concept commonly used to refer to policy and monetary relationships between legislators, national armed forces, and the industrial sector that supports them...
that sets national and international financial, economic, political and military policies due to a permanent war economyPermanent war economyThe concept of permanent war economy originated in 1944 with an article by Ed Sard , Walter S. Oakes and T.N. Vance, a Third Camp Socialist, who predicted a post-war arms race...
.
"The prospect of domination of the nation's scholars by Federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is ever present – and is gravely to be regarded."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower Farewell Address to the Nation January 17, 1961
- In his 2004 book Confessions of an Economic Hit ManConfessions of an Economic Hit ManConfessions of an Economic Hit Man is a book written by John Perkins and published in 2004. It provides Perkins' account of his career with consulting firm Chas. T. Main in Boston. Before employment with the firm, he interviewed for a job with the National Security Agency...
, John Perkins writes; "corporations, banks, and governments (collectively the corporatocracy)". - The concept of a government run by corporations or instances where governments are actually weaker (politically, financially, and militarily) than corporations is a theme often used in both political fictionPolitical fictionPolitical fiction is a subgenre of fiction that deals with political affairs. Political fiction has often used narrative to provide commentary on political events, systems and theories. Works of political fiction often "directly criticize an existing society or.....
and science fiction. In these instances the dominant corporate entity is usually dubbed a "megacorporation".
See also
- CorporacracyCorporacracyCorporacracy is a social theory that focuses on the increasing usage of corporate structure in today's society. With the advent of population explosion in the twentieth century, Corporacracy evolved into a major global force as a factor in the interaction of corporations and governments...
- Corporate capitalismCorporate capitalismCorporate capitalism is a term used in social science and economics to describe a capitalist marketplace characterized by the dominance of hierarchical, bureaucratic corporations, which are legally required to pursue profit....
- Corporate crimeCorporate crimeIn criminology, corporate crime refers to crimes committed either by a corporation , or by individuals acting on behalf of a corporation or other business entity...
- Corporate scandalCorporate scandalA corporate scandal is a scandal involving allegations of unethical behavior by people acting within or on behalf of a corporation. A corporate scandal sometimes involves accounting fraud of some sort...
- CorporatismCorporatismCorporatism, also known as corporativism, is a system of economic, political, or social organization that involves association of the people of society into corporate groups, such as agricultural, business, ethnic, labor, military, patronage, or scientific affiliations, on the basis of common...
- Crony capitalismCrony capitalismCrony capitalism is a term describing a capitalist economy in which success in business depends on close relationships between business people and government officials...
- PlutocracyPlutocracyPlutocracy is rule by the wealthy, or power provided by wealth. The combination of both plutocracy and oligarchy is called plutarchy. The word plutocracy is derived from the Ancient Greek root ploutos, meaning wealth and kratos, meaning to rule or to govern.-Usage:The term plutocracy is generally...
- State monopoly capitalismState monopoly capitalismThe theory of state monopoly capitalism was initially a Marxist doctrine popularised after World War II. Lenin had claimed in 1916 that World War I had transformed laissez-faire capitalism into monopoly capitalism, but he did not publish any extensive theory about the topic...
External links
- John PerkinsJohn PerkinsJohn Perkins is an economist and author. He was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador from 1968–1970 and this experience launched him in the world of economics and writing...
lecture on Corporatocracy - John Perkins (author) John Perkins (author), Confessions of an Economic Hitman Confessions of an Economic Hit ManConfessions of an Economic Hit ManConfessions of an Economic Hit Man is a book written by John Perkins and published in 2004. It provides Perkins' account of his career with consulting firm Chas. T. Main in Boston. Before employment with the firm, he interviewed for a job with the National Security Agency...
page xiii, Berrett-Koehler Publishers (November 9, 2004) - Dave Johnson, Huffington Post, Monopoly Corporatocracy Replaces Democracy
- Keith Harrington, Huffington Post, The BP Spill: Corporatocracy Ground Zero?
- John Perkins (author), Huffington Post, Battle the Corporatocracy by Demanding Sustainability
- Andy Webster, New York Times, Thoughts on a ‘Corporatocracy’
- Prop 14 is 'Corporatocracy' says Green Party candidate, Linda Piera-Avila for Santa Monica City Council on issues
- Teaching for Democracy in an Age of Corporatocracy by Christine E. Sleeter, Teachers College, Columbia University.
- Crimes of Globalization: The Impact of U.S. Corporatocracy in Third World Countries by John Flores-Hidones
- corporatOCRACY.biz: "Corporatism meets Democracy; Wall Street meets Main Street."