The Corporation: The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power - Joel Bakan

No wonder the last Woodstock went up in flames!

Joel Bakan has written a book which should surprise no one who has worked for a multinational, or been at the receieving end of the "externalisation" of costs. As the west faces competition from the emerging economies of China and India, where tax regimes and public infrastructure, and vast areas of poverty, pale in comparison to that which we expect, it is clear that even social costs are being externalised in the pursuit of profit and greed.

This book therefore could not be more timely, because left to their own devices, corporations have no feeling, no remorse, no guilt, no loyalty, and little responsibility. They are barely held to account for their actions, (once they become too big), and wield more power than many national governments. Profit is the word, and anyone or anything in the way is a mere inconvenience, and Bakan likens all of this to the clinical description of a psychopath.

What do you expect of your employers and your suppliers of goods and services? Should they have a social and environmental conscience rather than one purely aims at generating the maximum profits for shareholders? Should they have a loyalty to a population once they have invested and grown them? What is the future of your job, your working conditions, your environment and your health, and how does the corporation fit in?

With a historic perspective of why corporations were banned, and plenty of examples of corporate misdeeds that have gone largely unpunished, some of which are simply shocking, (Three pages of cases against GE!), you can really get a feel of why Bakan has his concerns.

Whilst this might seem like left wing Marxism, it is infact written by a professor of law. This book is a doddle to read and understand, so read it! Then consider what you should do to prevent the demise of government and democracy in the name of corporate profit.

Mind-altering and perceptive

I don't think I had ever really thought about what a corporation actually was until I read this book. It is not one of those wild, let's go back to the stone age kind of books, turning its back on the modern world and capitalism per se, but it does regard the corproation as 'pathological', driven by self-interest and regardless of any other concerns (environmental, moral, social) apart from the need to maximise profit to shareholders. As such, it sees the corporation as a human creation, enabled by human laws, and therfore capable of being reconstructed along better, more human/humane lines. The tone throughout is sane, urbane and moderate (as you would probably expect from a professor of law at the Univesity of British Columbia), but the message it delivers is damning and sharp. Like other readers, I could not put it down and read it pretty well non-stop.

Enlighting and informative about the reform of Captialism

Anyone interested in business or society this a an essential book to read. The book is easily accessiable and an enjoyable read but its a devasting critqiue on the behaviours of corporations and the consqences of profit at any cost motive and the damage its doing to the world.
Marx was right according to Bakan that eventually the Captialists are signing their own fate by grossing out on the fat profits.
Bakan provides with solutions from both sides of the argument in a clear and unambigous way but strongly comes down in favour of Government regualtion to tame the gross excesses of captialism and to put Human life and protection of the enviroment at the centre of future business organizations.
Highly recommened read for anyone either left or right in their political persusions.

A Good Read

I very much enjoyed "The Corporation" and devoured it in a day. However, for anyone who has (like myself) read No Logo or anything in a similar vein, it will mostly be old news.

Looking forward to the documentary, which I'm going to see in the pictures on Friday.

Interesting and informative

Right from the start this book provides an insightful analysis of the Corporate world around us. Not limiting itself to an in depth look at the world inside the boardroom, it provides an interesting and easily accessible account of why many of the things that are happening around us, happen.
It is essential reading for anyone who has an interest in business.
It is recommended reading for anyone who is curious about modern life and the society in which we live.

I read this on holiday so don't be fooled into thinking it is a business text book - it is too well written and interesting for that!

Just buy it, read it and enjoy it.