When Corporations Rule the World

"When Corporations Rule the World" is thoroughly documented and very accurate.
David Korten describes the many tentacles of global corporations. He examines the details surrounding the case of Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad as the beginning of corporations receiving the same rights as individual citizens.

He covers the rise of corporate power in the 1880's and 1890's. President Rutherford B. Hayes observed- "This is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people no more. It is a government of corporations, by corporations, and for corporations."

The author assesses the "free" market and "free" trade as instruments that allow global corporations to plan and organize world economic affairs to enrich themselves without any consequences regarding the environment or workers.
Mr. Korten explains why capitalism favors the limited liability corporation. It provides unlimited, concentrated power with very limited accountability or legal liability.
He favors corporate charters because there is accountability. Charters are a priviledge rather than a right.

Mr. Korten examines the flawed projections that served as propaganda for NAFTA's passage. He emphasizes that while government shares some of the blame, the "giant corporations that owe no allegiance to place, people, or human interest" are the benficiaries.
From page 133- "The game of global competition is rigged. It pits companies against people in a contest that the people almost always lose."
Another accurate view on page 207 states- "The argument that globalization increases competition is simply false. To the contrary, it strengthens tendencies toward global-scale monopoly."

The author explains why GATT and the WTO are bad for the general public, great for global corporations. I disagree with his idea of keeping either the U.N. family of organizations or the Bretton Woods group. Why not get rid of them all?

His take on the China trade agreement was on point. The day after Bill Clinton signed the China trade agreement the Wall Street Journal "noted the real reason the corporate establishment put it's full lobbying weight behind the China Trade Bill: to guarantee that U.S. companies could safely move more production to China with assured access to U.S. markets." Does anyone else remember the Chinese campaign contributions to Clinton?

The author has some intriguing solutions in the book. His idea of eliminating income tax on the lower income levels is one positive step. However I don't agree with some of his ideas. Guaranteed income is one of them.


"When Corporations Rule the World" is a sobering assessment of corporate greed that respects no borders. While it is somewhat dated, I recommend it.

I can't say enough about When Corporations Rule the World. Everyone in the US especially should read this book. The mega corporation has changed living in this world to the detriment of all mankind. When there exists an entity, whose sole purpose is to make money to perpetuate itself, and it is put in charge of such delicate matters as healthcare (private insurance- among other sectors), it is a no-brainer that human beings lose time and time again. People in the US and around the world don't realize how deep a hold corporations have over their daily existence. They also do not realize the power that we as a people have to break this hold if we act in concert for the good of humans and the environment on which we depend for our livelihoods and health. That we have GIVEN power away to coporations and the people that run them, is a sad commentary on the human state of being. We MUST ACT now to fight against corporations. START NOW BY READING THIS BOOK!

Great to read through. Some good brain food. But the solutions he espouses are reminiscent of some 1970's feel good scenario.

How corporations developed and expanded their power and influence; how they operate today; and what the stakes are for individuals and states as a new form of governance and administration consolidates its power worldwide. Well-written and compelling. The political issue no politician (except for Ralph Nader) dares to acknowledge, much less confront.

This book is a chronological history of the corporation in Western society, with an emphasis of 20th century US history. In short, the book describes the rise of corporate power over that of individuals, towns, states, and now nations at the dawn of the 21st century. Key to this history are specific court decisions, legislative acts, and international treaties, many of which are discussed by the author. As a work of history, it includes enough facts and citations to keep it honest, yet not make it a tough-read. My only problem was its heavy emphasis on the 20th century corporate focus on financial manipulation. The book almost ignores the role of mineral extraction corporations in creating many modern political borders, and hence border disputes and civil wars. For this I give the book 4 out of 5 stars.