Bakan the corporation book

Discover book depositorys huge selection of joel bakan books online. 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. Joel bakan is an author, filmmaker and a professor of law at the university of british columbia. The corporation by joel bakan 2842 words essay example. The manifesto has spawned a documentary film, also called the corporation. His arguments revolve around the power and the objectives of companies and organizations. In his provocative book the corporation and movie of the same title, professor joel bakan argues that corporation would be a psychopath. The book joel bakans book is a brilliantly argued account of the corporations pathological pursuit of profit and power. This book argues for the inclusion of the corporation as an integral element of political philosophy. His book childhood under siege was published in august 2011. The corporation features numerous hotbutton issues, from advertising aimed at children to the privatization of public institutions. The corporation the pathological pursuit of profit and power by. 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.

Bakan provides a critical but convincing analysis of the profound influence of corporations in. The corporation, based on a book by the canadian law professor joel bakan, is divided into cutely titled chapters democracy ltd. 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. Legal scholar joel bakan is a professor of law at the university of british columbia. Oct 28, 2014 this is explored through specific examples. The corporation is farenheit 911 for people who think. Beginning with its origins in the sixteenth century, bakan traces the corporation s rise to dominance. 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. 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 bakans new book is a brilliantly argued account of the corporations pathological pursuit of profit and power. We have, over the last three hundred years constructed a remarkably efficient wealthcreating machine, but it is now out of control. Pdf the corporation the pathological pursuit of profit and.

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. 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. Joel bakans new book is a brilliantly argued account of the corporations pathological pursuit of profit and power. The pathological pursuit of profit and power by joel bakan. Corporate social responsibility is impossible except insofar as it is insincere. Bakan does such a good job of creating awareness that the corporation cant help but be a call to action.

Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Specifically he examines large angloamerican publicly traded business corporations 3. Governments have freed the corporation, despite its flawed character, from legal constraints through deregulation and granted it ever greater authority over society through privatization. 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 book was a bit drier and less emotionally tugging than the documentary. Bakan authored the corporation, a book analyzing the evolution and modernday behavior of corporations from a critical perspective. The corporation film analysis essay 1736 words 7 pages. His bestselling book the corporation was made into an awardwinning documentary. 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. The pathological pursuit of power and profit, bakan 2004, pp. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. 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 pathological pursuit of profit and power, and is made by the team comprising mark achbar and jennifer abbott. Beginning with its origins in the sixteenth century, bakan traces the corporations rise to dominance.

An eminent law professor and legal theorist, bakan contends that the corporation is created. The corporation is a 2003 canadian documentary film written by joel bakan, and directed by mark achbar and jennifer abbott. The documentary examines the modernday corporation. Joel bakans book is a brilliantly argued account of the corporations pathological pursuit of profit and power. Portrait of a corporate psychopath a new film and book reveal the corporation as a rapacious and immoral creature, writes simon caulkin. Usa today the corporation, according to joel bakan, is the monster that can swallow civilization greedy, exploitive, and unstoppable.

In this engaging narrative, legal theorist joel bakan contends that the modern business corporation is created by law to function like a psychopathic personality. An eminent law professor and legal theorist, bakan contends that the corporation is created by law to function much like a psychopathic personality whose destructive behavior, if left unchecked, leads to scandal and ruin. It obeys the law only when the costs of crime exceed the profits. Portrait of a corporate psychopath business the guardian. He is a former rhodes scholar and a former law clerk to the chief justice of the canadian supreme court. 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 book joel bakan s book is a brilliantly argued account of the corporation s pathological pursuit of profit and power. This book is an evaluation of corporation in contemporary society. Oct 12, 2004 i read a book on the weekend called the corporation, the pathelogical pursuit of profit and power by joel bakan. Eminent canadian law professor and legal theorist joel bakan contends that todays corporation is a pathological institution, a dangerous possessor of the great.

He is the cocreator and writer of a documentary film and television miniseries called the corporation, which is based on the book. First tracing the corporation s rise to dominance, he then makes a series of claims about its modern existence. Bakans book takes issue with many aspects of the modern corporation. 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. 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. His arguments revolve around the power and the objectives of companies and organizati. The pathological pursuit of profit and power bakan, joel on. The corporations legally defined mandate is to pursue relentlessly and without exception its own economic selfinterest, regardless of the harmful consequences it. 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. The corporation film analysis the corporation was based on a book written by joel bakan. Moreover, as bakan observed in his book, the law requires corporations to prioritize the interests of. The independentthis fine book was virtually begging to be written. A groundbreaking and provocative look at the dominant institution of our time the corporation. Bakans book, the corporation, attempts to provide a pathological explanation of how corporations came to wield so much power over the society.

A rhodes scholar and former law clerk to chief justice brian dickson of the supreme court of. Published in 2004, the corporation, by legal scholar joel bakan, demonstrates that corporations often misbehave because it is in their nature to do so. Joel bakan is an internationally recognized and awardwinning scholar and teacher who has worked on landmark legal cases and government policies. 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.

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. 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. The corporation lies, steals and kills without remorse and without hesitation when it serves the interests of its shareholders to do so. 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. He tackles the issues of sweatshop labour, vehicle safety, and marketing to children. The pathological pursuit of profit and power joel bakan on. The pathological pursuit of profit and power new ed by joel bakan isbn. The pathological pursuit of profit and power kindle edition by bakan, joel. The pathological pursuit of profit and power, during the filming of the documentary. 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. This is another eyeopening book, where the author contends that the structure.

The corporation by joel bakan summary what you will learn. In this revolutionary assessment of the history, character. 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. Chapter one in the book the corporation by joel bakan expl ains the corporation in. 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. He traces the foundations of corporations to the 17 th century and asserts that the objectives of the corporation have changed. This book, despite being a decade old now, is still utterly damming in its analysis of the ruling institutions that dominate our society. The most powerful class of institution on earth, the corporation, is by any reasonable measure hopelessly and unavoidably demented. The pathological pursuit of profit and power edited by jennifer abbott commissioning editor, tvo rudy.

As incisive as eric schlossers bestselling fast food nation, as rigorous as joseph e. Published in 2004, it was made into a film the corporation the same year and won 25 international awards. 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 documentary is based on a book written by joel bakan titled the corporation. Pdf the corporation the pathological pursuit of profit. 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.

The corporation documentary summary analysis jotted. Joel bakan is a professor of law at the university of british columbia, and an internationally renowned legal scholar and commentator. But bakan believes change is possible and he outlines a farreaching program of achievable reforms through legal regulation and democratic control. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. 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. 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. The pathological pursuit of profit and power by joel bakan and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The modern corporation, according to law professor joel bakan, is singularly selfinterested and unable to feel genuine concern for others in any context.

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. I read a book on the weekend called the corporation, the pathelogical pursuit of profit and power by joel bakan. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the corporation. Over the last 150 years the corporation has risen from relative obscurity to become the worlds dominant economic institution. The pathological pursuit of profit and power by joel bakan lisa kemmerer calls corporations to account under the guidance of joel bakan. The corporation book by joel bakan official publisher. 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. With lucidity and verve, expert knowledge and incisive.

The corporation the pathological pursuit of profit and. The corporation by joel bakan overdrive rakuten overdrive. Oct 12, 2004 as incisive as eric schlossers bestselling fast food nation, as rigorous as joseph e. An internationally renowned legal authority, bakan has written widely on law and its social and economic impact. Lisa kemmerer calls corporations to account under the guidance of joel. The corporation the pathological pursuit of profit and power. Although a corporation has the legal status of a person, it is not expected to meet the commensurate responsibilities of an individual. Joel bakan s book is a brilliantly argued account of the corporation s pathological pursuit of profit and power. 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 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. Joel bakan is professor of law at the university of british columbia. A corporation cannot, for example, be imprisoned for criminal activities. New edition what would the world be like if its ruling elite was insane.