This book is an evaluation of corporation in contemporary society. This 39page guide for the corporation by joel bakan includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 6 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. The corporation by joel bakan overdrive rakuten overdrive. Specifically he examines large angloamerican publicly traded business corporations 3. His book childhood under siege was published in august 2011. Bakan does not presume to offer a 10step guide to solving the problem of corporate control, but he does suggest that citizens must force government to restore its traditional role of regulator and mediator. Governments have freed the corporation, despite its flawed character, from legal constraints through deregulation and granted it ever greater authority over society through privatization. His arguments revolve around the power and the objectives of companies and organizations. Pdf the corporation the pathological pursuit of profit. A rhodes scholar and former law clerk to chief justice brian dickson of the supreme court of. New edition what would the world be like if its ruling elite was insane. The corporation features numerous hotbutton issues, from advertising aimed at children to the privatization of public institutions. The most powerful class of institution on earth, the corporation, is by any reasonable measure hopelessly and unavoidably demented.
The corporation the pathological pursuit of profit and power by. Bakan does such a good job of creating awareness that the corporation cant help but be a call to action. In this revolutionary assessment of the history, character. Oct 23, 2004 portrait of a corporate psychopath a new film and book reveal the corporation as a rapacious and immoral creature, writes simon caulkin. The corporation by joel bakan 2842 words essay example. This is another eyeopening book, where the author contends that the structure. The pathological pursuit of profit and power kindle edition by bakan, joel. His arguments revolve around the power and the objectives of companies and organizati. The pathological pursuit of profit and power by joel bakan and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Portrait of a corporate psychopath business the guardian. It begins with a historical evaluation of the corporation as a constituent of political society. Stiglitzs globalization and its discontents, and as scathing as michael moores stupid white men, joel bakan s new book is a brilliantly argued account of the corporation s pathological pursuit of profit and power. Joel bakan s book is a brilliantly argued account of the corporation s pathological pursuit of profit and power. Joel bakan is professor of law at the university of british columbia.
We all pay a price for the corporations flawed character, he argues, with devastating consequences that include the deadly cloud of lethal chemicals that killed. Bakan authored the corporation, a book analyzing the evolution and modernday behavior of corporations from a critical perspective. The book was a bit drier and less emotionally tugging than the documentary. The corporation by joel bakan summary what you will learn. Legal scholar joel bakan is a professor of law at the university of british columbia. Moreover, as bakan observed in his book, the law requires corporations to prioritize the interests of.
He is the cocreator and writer of a documentary film and television miniseries called the corporation, which is based on the book. Usa today the corporation, according to joel bakan, is the monster that can swallow civilization greedy, exploitive, and unstoppable. Beginning with its origins in the sixteenth century, bakan traces the corporation s rise to dominance. Chapter one in the book the corporation by joel bakan expl ains the corporation in. Joel bakans book is a brilliantly argued account of the corporations pathological pursuit of profit and power. The pathological pursuit of profit and power new ed by joel bakan isbn. The corporations legally defined mandate is to pursue relentlessly and without exception its own economic selfinterest, regardless of the harmful consequences it. It is a documentary film that looks at the history of corporation and follows them up until present day to illustrate their dominance in society. This book, despite being a decade old now, is still utterly damming in its analysis of the ruling institutions that dominate our society. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The pathological pursuit of profit and power 9780743247467 by bakan, joel and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at. Bakans book, the corporation, attempts to provide a pathological explanation of how corporations came to wield so much power over the society.
In this engaging narrative, legal theorist joel bakan contends that the modern business corporation is created by law to function like a psychopathic personality. The corporation is farenheit 911 for people who think. Corporate social responsibility is impossible except insofar as it is insincere. Pdf the corporation the pathological pursuit of profit and. The corporation is a 2003 canadian documentary film written by university of british columbia law professor joel bakan, and directed by mark achbar and jennifer abbott. The pathological pursuit of profit and power bakan, joel on. His bestselling book the corporation was made into an awardwinning documentary. The corporation book by joel bakan official publisher. The book was written during the making of the corporation cocreated with mark achbar and formed the basis of the research and writing for the film. The pathological pursuit of profit and power by joel bakan.
It seems a bit surprizing that i would read a book that is very anticorporate but as i got into the book, saw that the primary view is that. The pathological pursuit of profit and power joel bakan on. In his provocative book the corporation and movie of the same title, professor joel bakan argues that corporation would be a psychopath. The corporation documentary summary analysis jotted. Although a corporation has the legal status of a person, it is not expected to meet the commensurate responsibilities of an individual. It seems a bit surprizing that i would read a book that is very anticorporate but as i got into the book, saw that the primary view is that the corporations are not immoral, they are simple amoral. The modern corporation, according to law professor joel bakan, is singularly selfinterested and unable to feel genuine concern for others in any context. The corporation the pathological pursuit of profit and power. He tackles the issues of sweatshop labour, vehicle safety, and marketing to children. Bakan provides a critical but convincing analysis of the profound influence of corporations in. With lucidity and verve, joel bakan unveils the history and the character of a devilish instrument that has been created and is nurtured by powerful modern states.
The corporation s legally defined mandate is to pursue, relentlessly and without exception, its own selfinterest, regardless of the often harmful consequences it might cause to others. The pathological pursuit of profit and power 9780743247467 by bakan, joel and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. It obeys the law only when the costs of crime exceed the profits. The independentthis fine book was virtually begging to be written. Oct 12, 2004 as incisive as eric schlossers bestselling fast food nation, as rigorous as joseph e. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. The book joel bakans book is a brilliantly argued account of the corporations pathological pursuit of profit and power. A corporation cannot, for example, be imprisoned for criminal activities. Joel bakan is a professor of law at the university of british columbia, and an internationally renowned legal scholar and commentator. Discover book depositorys huge selection of joel bakan books online.
A former rhodes scholar and law clerk to chief justice brian dickson of the supreme court of canada, bakan has law degrees from oxford, dalhousie, and harvard. Eminent canadian law professor and legal theorist joel bakan contends the modern business corporation is created by law to function like a psychopathic personality. The documentary examines the modernday corporation. His work examines the social, economic, and political dimensions of law, and he has published in leading legal and social science journals as well as in the popular press.
An eminent law professor and legal theorist, bakan contends that the corporation is created. The corporation a film by mark achbar jennifer abbott joel bakan end credits directed by mark achbar and jennifer abbott produced by mark achbar and bart simpson written by joel bakan based on the book by joel bakan the corporation. What i really liked about it was that he offered practical solutions watched the documentary years ago during college, but never got around to reading the book. As incisive as eric schlossers bestselling fast food nation, as rigorous as joseph e. The corporation has become a vehicle by which good men and women cause harm to society because of the way the corporation is created and protected by the law. Joel bakan is an internationally recognized and awardwinning scholar and teacher who has worked on landmark legal cases and government policies.
Eminent canadian law professor and legal theorist joel bakan contends that todays corporation is a pathological institution, a dangerous possessor of the great power it wields over people and societies. Introduction summary joel bakans book takes a hard look at the nature of corporations, which he believes are each designed to seek its own selfinterest, regardless of the often harmful consequences it might cause to others 2. Published in 2004, the corporation, by legal scholar joel bakan, demonstrates that corporations often misbehave because it is in their nature to do so. The corporate legal mandate, to pursue profit on behalf of shareholders, impels corporations to take any action, including callous, antisocial. But bakan believes change is possible and he outlines a farreaching program of achievable reforms through legal regulation and democratic control. We have, over the last three hundred years constructed a remarkably efficient wealthcreating machine, but it is now out of control. In the book, bakan tells compelling stories of corporate malfeasance with the help of a corporate spy, a labour activist, and a member of the arctic gwichin nation. Eminent canadian law professor and legal theorist joel bakan contends that todays corporation is a pathological institution, a dangerous possessor of the great.
Bakan s book outlines the history of the problems that stem from too much corporate power, describes some of the worst consequences of this trend, and proposes. An internationally renowned legal authority, bakan has written widely on law and its social and economic impact. In the corporation, author joel bakan paints the worlds largest and most powerful companies as greedy psychopaths whose relentless drive for profits is destroying lives, damaging communities, and endangering the planet as a whole. The documentary is based on a book written by joel bakan titled the corporation. With lucidity and verve, expert knowledge and incisive analysis, joel bakan unveils the history and the character of a devilish instrument that has been created and. Portrait of a corporate psychopath a new film and book reveal the corporation as a rapacious and immoral creature, writes simon caulkin. With lucidity and verve, expert knowledge and incisive. The corporation film analysis the corporation was based on a book written by joel bakan.
The pathological pursuit of profit and power by joel bakan lisa kemmerer calls corporations to account under the guidance of joel bakan. The pathological pursuit of power and profit, bakan 2004, pp. Joel bakan is an author, filmmaker and a professor of law at the university of british columbia. Lisa kemmerer calls corporations to account under the guidance of joel. The book joel bakan s book is a brilliantly argued account of the corporation s pathological pursuit of profit and power. The pathological pursuit of profit and power edited by jennifer abbott commissioning editor, tvo rudy. The pathological pursuit of profit and power, during the filming of the documentary. Stiglitzs globalization and its discontents, and as scathing as michael moores stupid white men, joel bakans new book is a brilliantly argued account of the corporations pathological pursuit of profit and power. The corporation film analysis essay 1736 words 7 pages. I read a book on the weekend called the corporation, the pathelogical pursuit of profit and power by joel bakan. The corporation, based on a book by the canadian law professor joel bakan, is divided into cutely titled chapters democracy ltd. A groundbreaking and provocative look at the dominant institution of our time the corporation.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the corporation. He traces the foundations of corporations to the 17 th century and asserts that the objectives of the corporation have changed. As the title of the book suggests, business corporations are all too often guilty of pursuing profits over the interests of people and the environment. Published in 2004, it was made into a film the corporation the same year and won 25 international awards.
The corporation lies, steals and kills without remorse and without hesitation when it serves the interests of its shareholders to do so. The corporation the pathological pursuit of profit and. The corporation is a 2003 canadian documentary film written by joel bakan, and directed by mark achbar and jennifer abbott. He is a former rhodes scholar and a former law clerk to the chief justice of the canadian supreme court. Oct 28, 2014 this is explored through specific examples. Joel bakans new book is a brilliantly argued account of the corporations pathological pursuit of profit and power. Oct 12, 2004 i read a book on the weekend called the corporation, the pathelogical pursuit of profit and power by joel bakan. Over the last 150 years the corporation has risen from relative obscurity to become the worlds dominant economic institution. The manifesto has spawned a documentary film, also called the corporation. The pathological pursuit of profit and power, and is made by the team comprising mark achbar and jennifer abbott. This book argues for the inclusion of the corporation as an integral element of political philosophy. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. At once a diagnosis and a course of treatment, the corporation is essential reading for those who want to understand the nature of the modern business system. Beginning with its origins in the sixteenth century, bakan traces the corporations rise to dominance.