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. Robert monks this fine book was virtually begging to be written. We are all its potential victims, which is why we must all understand how the corporate form makes it so difficult to control its abuses. His arguments revolve around the power and the objectives of companies and organizations. Portrait of a corporate psychopath business the guardian. The documentary examines the modernday corporation.
Pdf the corporation the pathological pursuit of profit and. The corporation by joel bakan the pathological pursuit of power and profit this is another eyeopening book, where the author contends that the structure of companies forces them to be psychopaths by definition. The book inspired a feature documentary film, the corporation, written by bakan and cocreated with mark achbar, which won numerous awards, including best foreign documentary at the sundance film festival, and was a critical and box office success. Narrated by the wonderfully talented rebecca jenkins, this book and dr. In his provocative book the corporation and movie of the same title, professor joel bakan argues that corporation would be a psychopath. With lucidity and verve, joel bakan unveils the history and the character of a devilish instrument that has been created and is.
The pathological pursuit of profit and power by joel bakan lisa kemmerer calls corporations to account under the guidance of joel bakan. Pdf the corporation the pathological pursuit of profit. 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. Apr 24, 2019 joel bakans book is a brilliantly argued account of the corporations pathological pursuit of profit and power. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Usa today the corporation, according to joel bakan, is the monster that can swallow civilization greedy, exploitive, and unstoppable. He went on to earn a ba at simon fraser university 1981, and then, as a rhodes scholar, a ba in law from oxford university in 1983. Discover book depositorys huge selection of joel bakan books online. He is the cocreator and writer of a documentary film and television miniseries called the corporation, which is based on the book.
Published in 2004, the corporation, by legal scholar joel bakan, demonstrates that corporations often misbehave because it is in their nature to do so. A groundbreaking and provocative look at the dominant institution of our time 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. Oct 12, 2004 as incisive as eric schlossers bestselling fast food nation, as rigorous as joseph e.
We have, over the last three hundred years constructed a remarkably efficient wealthcreating machine, but it is now out of control. Joel bakan calls for a rethinking of the corporate entity as we know it. That raises a number of questions, which i address in subsequent chapters. In this engaging narrative, legal theorist joel bakan contends that the modern business corporation is created by law to function like a psychopathic personality. 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. The pathological pursuit of profit and power by joel bakan the post911 chill that muted some critics of corporate business practices did nothing to stop professor joel bakan from pursuing his own thesis. Heres a sample from joel bakans the corporation, the book on which his award winning documentary of the same name was based. Born in lansing, michigan, joel bakan moved in 1970 with his parents to vancouver, british columbia, canada, where he graduated from eric hamber secondary high school.
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 professor of law at the university of british columbia. Joel bakans book is a brilliantly argued account of the corporations pathological pursuit of profit and power sample the corporation. They support their arguments with case studies, vignettes, and interviews some of which are. His criticism of company as selfish, immoral profitmaximizing creature is accurate and sound. Oct 23, 2004 joel bakan, whose provocative film documentary, the corporation, is due out at this month and whose book of the same is in the shops constable. The documentary is critical of the modernday corporation, considering. Bakan does such a good job of creating awareness that the corporation cant help but be a call to action. The corporate legal mandate, to pursue profit on behalf of shareholders, impels corporations to take any action, including callous, antisocial, and even unlawful behaviors, so long as they generate a profit. All content in this area was uploaded by joel bakan on jan 14, 2016. The corporation the pathological pursuit of profit and power. 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. An eminent law professor and legal theorist, bakan contends that.
The corporation, according to joel bakan, is the monster that can swallow civilization greedy, exploitive, and unstoppable. The corporation is farenheit 911 for people who think. Joel bakan s book is a brilliantly argued account of the corporation s pathological pursuit of profit and power. A rhodes scholar and former law clerk to chief justice brian dickson of the supreme court of canada, he holds law degrees from oxford, harvard and dalhousie universities. 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, during the filming of the documentary. 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.
Bakan provides a critical but convincing analysis of the profound influence of corporations in the world. First tracing the corporation s rise to dominance, he then makes a series of claims about its modern existence. Corporations are not run by evil people, but are it is no secret that nearly all human societies including our present societies favor the rich and powerful at the expense of everyone else. An ambitious and wayout radical conclusion, but the premise and examples are wellillustrated and wellargued.
This sample focused on the push to privatize education. 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. Inspired by joel bakans eponymous book, the films premise is that, since the corporation has been given the rights of a legal person, we can evaluate what type of person it is. Bakan outlines the history of the corporation, defines the problem of enterprises operating at status quo in a world of diminishing commons and explains why the current structures are going to be difficult to change. The independentthis fine book was virtually begging to be written. How big business targets children, are books we all. 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 is nurtured by powerful modern states.
An eminent law professor and legal theorist, bakan contends that the. Joel conrad bakan born 1959 is an americancanadian writer, jazz musician, filmmaker, and professor at the peter a. The pathological pursuit of profit and power edited by jennifer abbott commissioning editor, tvo rudy. His bestselling book the corporation was made into an awardwinning documentary. We all pay a price for the corporations flawed character, he argues, with devastating consequences that include the deadly cloud of lethal chemicals. Joel bakan interest, regardless of the often harmful consequences it might cause to others. 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. Joel bakan is an internationally recognized and awardwinning scholar and teacher who has worked on landmark legal cases and government policies. Noam chomsky the corporation is farenheit 911 for people who think. The next chapter of the book presents the corporation as a. Bakans book the corporation, attempts to provide a pathological explanation of how corporations came to wield so much power over the society. Bakan s book the corporation, attempts to provide a pathological explanation of how corporations came to wield so much power over the society. 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. More this paper has been submitted by user griffin hurst who studied at rutgers, the state university of new jersey, usa, with average gpa 3.
Jun 23, 2005 robert monks this fine book was virtually begging to be written. Legal scholar joel bakan is a professor of law at the university of british columbia. 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. 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.
Joel bakans book is a brilliantly argued account of the corporations pathological pursuit of profit and power. Over the last 150 years the corporation has risen from relative obscurity to become the worlds dominant economic institution. As incisive as eric schlossers bestselling fast food nation, as rigorous as joseph e. Joel bakan is the author of the books the corporation and childhood under siege. The corporation book by joel bakan official publisher. This book is an evaluation of corporation in contemporary society. He is a former rhodes scholar and a former law clerk to the chief justice of the canadian supreme court. It outlines the importance of profit in business and how ruthless corporations are willing to be in order to bring in substantial revenue. The corporation is a 2003 canadian documentary film written by joel bakan, and directed by mark achbar and jennifer abbott. 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 corporation by joel bakan 2842 words essay example. In this shocking and indelible behindthescenes journey, joel bakan, acclaimed author and awardwinning maker of the renowned film and international bestselling book the corporation, uncovers the astonishing degree to which companies exploit the special vulnerabilities of children, manipulate parents fears, and operate with callous. The pathological pursuit of profit and power 9780743247467 by bakan, joel and a great selection of similar new, used. As a result, i argue, the corporation is a pathological institution, a dangerous possessor of the great power it wields over people and societies.