The corporation has seen tremendous growth over the past several centuries, both in size and influence, especially in the political realm. As a result of this influence, the corporation has evolved from a body governed by Kings during the colonial era, and later legislative bodies in the newly created United States, to being a sovereign entity that is just as powerful – if not more so – than the legislative bodies under which it was once ruled. With the rise of corporate sovereignty, politics and the market have become deeply intertwined, so much so that the sovereignty of the corporation now poses a substantial threat by undermining democracy to support their ever-expanding empires.
As Sklar states in The Corporate Reconstruction and the …show more content…
Early corporations benefitted the public, building roads and canals, amongst other infrastructural duties. They were seen only as means to an end, not meant to collect capital, and were chartered to construct something for the good of society, often dissolved once their duties had been completed.
A strict set of rules were imposed on corporations, most of which specifically prohibited their involvement in political affairs, such as attempting to influence elections, contributing to political causes, and donating to charities. The control of corporations was maintained by monarchs, and the number of corporations was small, mostly due of heavy opposition from the public. All action taken by corporations required approval from legislators, and if there was any misuse of power within the corporations, its contract was immediately …show more content…
The intertwinement of politics and the market, specifically pertaining to corporations and legislative bodies, has led to increase in corruption in the United States, mostly amongst politicians who solicit money from corporations to fund campaigns in exchange for certain legal perks or promises. In 2014, Transparency International, a think tank that exposes corruption in governments, ranked the United States as the 17th most corrupt country in the world. In 2011, it ranked 24th. To put this into perspective, the United Arab Emirates, a country where stoning and flogging are legal punishments, and trade unions and strikes are outlawed, ranked 25th in 2014. The United States was, very recently, ranked only one spot above a country that abides by Sharia law and embraces wealth over societal welfare. While there has since been a slight improvement, it nonetheless exposes how corrupt United States politics still are. Worse, it illustrates how corruption rooted in the political economy, which seems relatively benign compared to something like stoning, is equally as horrible of a human rights
As Sklar states in The Corporate Reconstruction and the …show more content…
Early corporations benefitted the public, building roads and canals, amongst other infrastructural duties. They were seen only as means to an end, not meant to collect capital, and were chartered to construct something for the good of society, often dissolved once their duties had been completed.
A strict set of rules were imposed on corporations, most of which specifically prohibited their involvement in political affairs, such as attempting to influence elections, contributing to political causes, and donating to charities. The control of corporations was maintained by monarchs, and the number of corporations was small, mostly due of heavy opposition from the public. All action taken by corporations required approval from legislators, and if there was any misuse of power within the corporations, its contract was immediately …show more content…
The intertwinement of politics and the market, specifically pertaining to corporations and legislative bodies, has led to increase in corruption in the United States, mostly amongst politicians who solicit money from corporations to fund campaigns in exchange for certain legal perks or promises. In 2014, Transparency International, a think tank that exposes corruption in governments, ranked the United States as the 17th most corrupt country in the world. In 2011, it ranked 24th. To put this into perspective, the United Arab Emirates, a country where stoning and flogging are legal punishments, and trade unions and strikes are outlawed, ranked 25th in 2014. The United States was, very recently, ranked only one spot above a country that abides by Sharia law and embraces wealth over societal welfare. While there has since been a slight improvement, it nonetheless exposes how corrupt United States politics still are. Worse, it illustrates how corruption rooted in the political economy, which seems relatively benign compared to something like stoning, is equally as horrible of a human rights