When Corporations Rule the World

By: David C. Korten

Narrated by: Kevin Pierce

A handful of corporations and financial institutions command an ever-greater concentration of economic and political power in an assault against markets, democracy, and life. It's a "suicide economy," David Korten says, and it destroys the very foundations of its own existence.

The best-selling 1995 edition of When Corporations Rule the World helped launch a global resistance against corporate domination. In this 20th-anniversary edition, Korten shares insights from his personal experience as a participant in the growing movement for a new economy. A new introduction documents the further concentration of wealth and corporate power since 1995 and explores why our institutions resolutely resist even modest reform. A new conclusion chapter outlines high-leverage opportunities for breakthrough change.

©2015 The Living Economies Forum (P)2015 The Living Economies Forum

It all makes sense. Good compilation.

A compilation of Corporatocracy vs common sense. Stay away if you are an MBA, as it is too philosophical and insightful.

amazing prophetic work...

it blows me away how 20 years ago he saw what has only become evident to most of us since the occupy movement. really great book...still completely relevant and offers suggestions to make a better world.

A powerful message but a bit dated now

I thought the book long for what was an important, but oft-repeated, theme. Clearly Korten is on track that corporations lack human conscience or compassion and should be more supportive of basic human needs and equity. However, only broad and generalized solutions are suggested versus more practical and tactical steps toward approaching such an alternative future. From a perspective as a 'Sermon on the Mount', message heard! The people need to force corporations to have a conscience with a goal of balancing human needs with stockholders' and bankers' desires for profit.

Although the 2nd edition was important in re-invigorating the message and updating the framework, very little of the original 30 year old research and data were updated. These anachronisms often weakened the contemporary argument. Learned readers would know this and just view that information as no longer relevant to the argument. Hopefully, new scholars will pick up where Korten left off and carry the message forward as the symbiotic relationships between corporations and governments creates a parasitic relationship upon the people.