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Why, When, and How Global Companies Get Organized
Chapter

Why, When, and How Global Companies Get Organized

Abstract

This chapter analyzes the changing ways that corporations organize themselves to wield power and authority. It argues that corporate power has become far more complex than simply lobbying. Corporate power is increasingly disaggregated ‐ exercised at some distance from centralized locations of power such as corporate boardrooms or elite networks of owners of capital. Corporate power is exercised through ideas, but also material objects. Power can involve direct coercion, but also can work more indirectly by altering social structures and material objects. The chapter identifies five spheres in which corporate power is exercised: public authority; civil society; consumption; production relations; and the biosphere. Examples of the disaggregated character of corporate power in each sphere are provided.

Authors

Porter T; Brown S

Book title

The Handbook of Global Companies

Pagination

pp. 96-112

Publisher

Wiley

Publication Date

May 15, 2013

DOI

10.1002/9781118326152.ch6
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