The corporation is a 2003 canadian documentary film written by joel bakan, and directed by mark achbar and jennifer abbott. The pathological pursuit of profit and power edited by jennifer abbott commissioning editor, tvo rudy buttignol narrator mikela j. 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. Bakan wrote a book, the corporation the pathological pursuit of profit and power, during the filming of the documentary. This book, despite being a decade old now, is still utterly damming in its analysis of the ruling institutions that dominate our society. Pathological nature of corporations not changed, say scholars. The book joel bakan s book is a brilliantly argued account of the corporation s pathological pursuit of profit and power.
Joel bakan argues that corporation are externalizing machines. Jun 23, 2009 according to legal scholar joel bakan, author of the corporation, despite the shift of business leaders who say that their companies care about society as a whole and not just about profits, the. Published in 2004, the corporation, by legal scholar joel bakan, demonstrates that corporations often misbehave because it is in their nature to do so. Inspired by joel bakan s 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. Joel bakan is an internationally recognized and awardwinning scholar and teacher who has worked on landmark legal cases and government policies. Joel bakan based on the book by joel bakan the corporation. The pathological pursuit of profit and power by joel bakan is a book as well as a documentary movie. The corporation is an assembly of many members into one body, a legal personality, working toward achievement of a special goal.
The pathological pursuit of profit and power new ed by joel bakan isbn. There is also a video documentary from zeitgeist films based on this book. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper. 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. Harmful effects can strike people outside the corporation and are called externalitiesliterally, other peoples problems 61. Corporation was its name, and it was an impressive allout attack on forprofit corporations. The corporation by joel bakan 2842 words essay example.
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 pathological pursuit of profit and power by joel bakan. Joel bakan interest, regardless of the often harmful consequences it might cause to others. As incisive as eric schlossers bestselling fast food nation, as rigorous as joseph e. The pathological pursuit of profit and power bakan, joel on. The inspiration for the film that won the 2004 sundance film festival audience award for best documentary, the corporation contends that the corporation is created by law to function much like a psychopathic personality, whose destructive behavior, if unchecked, leads to scandal and ruin. As a result, i argue, the corporation is a pathological institution, a dangerous possessor of the great power it wields over people and societies. The documentary is critical of the modernday corporation, considering. Much more depth than the movie documentary based on the book. Legal scholar joel bakan is a professor of law at the university of british columbia. Eminent canadian law professor and legal theorist joel bakan contends the modern business corporation is created by law to function like a psychopathic personality.
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. The corporation is an institution a unique structure and set of imperatives that direct actions of people within it. Joel bakan the corporation is essential reading for those who want to understand the nature of the modern business system. 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. New edition what would the world be like if its ruling elite was insane. The corporation film analysis the corporation was based on a book written by joel bakan. The book overall depicts the behavior and the evil spirit of big corporative giants. 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. They support their arguments with case studies, vignettes, and interviews some of which are. That raises a number of questions, which i address in subsequent chapters. 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. Mar 05, 2009 joel bakan argues that corporation are externalizing machines. The externalizing machine a corporation is compelled to cause harm when the benefits of doing so outweigh the costs 60. Joel bakan is a professor of law at the university of british columbia, and an internationally renowned legal scholar and commentator.
A commentary on joel bakans the corporation, the pathological. The documentary examines the modernday corporation, considering its legal. Joel bakan is an author, filmmaker and a professor of law at the university of british columbia. I found this film very interesting with me once being part of the corporate world and finding my way onto. Oct 12, 2004 i read a book on the weekend called the corporation, the pathelogical pursuit of profit and power by joel bakan. The corporation lies, steals and kills without remorse and without hesitation when it serves the interests of its shareholders to do so. 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. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Bakan authored the corporation, a book analyzing the evolution and modernday behavior of corporations from a critical perspective. The inspiration for the film that won the 2004 sundance film festival audience award for best. The most powerful class of institution on earth, the corporation, is by any reasonable measure hopelessly and unavoidably. 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.
The corporation the pathological pursuit of profit and. No, the movie isnt as entertaining as recent documentaries by michael moore but bakan isnt overtly trying to influence current elections. Joel bakans book, the corporation, appeared in 2004, along with a film by the. Bakan does such a good job of creating awareness thatthe corporation cant help but be a call to action. The corporation is a no compromise look at the rise of the corporation and the growth of its important as a structure in society.
The corporation by joel bakan summary what you will learn. Published in 2004, it was made into a film the corporation the same year and won 25 international awards. Joel bakan s book is a brilliantly argued account of the corporation s pathological pursuit of profit and power. 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. 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. Subscribe for monthly updates on the best bits from the best books. 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. His arguments revolve around the power and the objectives of companies and organizati. The pathological pursuit of profit and power by joel bakan was written and submitted by user k1ngst0n to help you with your own studies. At the same time, the book by the same name appeared, through the free press in the usa and constable and robinson in the uk. The modern corporation, according to law professor joel bakan, is singularly selfinterested and unable to feel genuine concern for others in any context. The corporation, the pathological pursuit of profit and power, joel bakan. Joel bakan a century and a half after its birth, the modern business corporation, an artificial person made in the image of a human psychopath, now is seeking to remake real people in its image. We have, over the last three hundred years constructed a remarkably efficient wealthcreating machine, but it is now out of control.
Bakans book takes issue with many aspects of the modern corporation. Joel conrad bakan born 1959 is a canadian lawyer and writer. 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. 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 pathological pursuit of profit and power joel bakan on. 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. Over the last 150 years the corporation has risen from relative obscurity to become the worlds dominant. Mikael narration written by harold crooks joel bakan mark achbar coproducers cari green nathan neumer tom shandel associate producers. The film was written by joel bakan, and codirected by mark achbar and jennifer abbott. Usa today, the corporation, according to joel bakan, is the monster that can swallow civilization greedy, exploitive, and unstoppable. Joel bakan continues with his explanation about the corporations and.
The corporation is a canadian documentary film written by joel bakan, and directed by mark achbar and jennifer abbott. Apr 19, 2020 the corporation is an institution a unique structure and set of imperatives that direct actions of people within it. 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. The pathological pursuit of profit and power by joel bakan lisa kemmerer calls corporations to account under the guidance of joel bakan. In his provocative book the corporation and movie of the same title, professor joel bakan argues that corporation would be a psychopath. 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. Eminent canadian law professor and legal theorist joel bakan contends that todays corporation. It examines from the ground up how corporations have come to dominate our modern world and why the structure of the corporation has lead to abuses of resources, people and the environment in the pursuit of profit. Over the last 150 years the corporation has risen from relative obscurity to become the worlds dominant economic institution. Bakans thesis is that forprofit business corporations are specifically designed to exhibit behavior to that of human sociopaths. A powerhouse of a concept contends that the corporation is. Joel bakan author of the corporation depicts all about the corporation. This chapter talks about some specific ch aracter that all.
The documentary has been displayed worldwide, on tv sometimes in 3 parts and is also available in dvd. The corporation, bakan tells us in chapters two to five, is an externalizing machine. Canadian writer, law professor, and legal theorist joel bakan wrote the corporation. I read a book on the weekend called the corporation, the pathelogical pursuit of profit and power by joel bakan. The pathological pursuit of profit and power, during the filming of the documentary. 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. His bestselling book the corporation was made into an awardwinning documentary. The corporation and movie of the same title, professor joel bakan argues that.
Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Based on the corporation, develop and defend a thesisidea concerning the ethical consequences of companies externalizing costs. He is a former rhodes scholar and a former law clerk to the chief justice of the canadian supreme court. 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. Bakan refers in his highly readable and informative book is the corporation. The pathological pursuit of profit and power reprint by bakan, joel isbn. The most powerful class of institution on earth, the corporation, is by any reasonable measure hopelessly and unavoidably demented. Bakan s thesis is that forprofit business corporations are specifically designed to exhibit behavior to that of human sociopaths.
Joel bakan new edition what would the world be like if its ruling elite was insane. Bakan is claiming that corporation is pathological institution, since it only pursues its own selfinterests, no matter what consequences will be. Portrait of a corporate psychopath business the guardian. The pathological pursuit of profit and power by joel bakan 2004, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Its writer, joel bakan, was the same professor of law, who was the main writer for the film. Joel bakan author of the corporation depicts all about the corporation, corporation strategies, models. The documentary examines the modernday corporation. Harm to the environment or to communities, and even negative consequences borne by the corporation s. Eastwest journal of economics and business journal of economics and business vol.
Bakan does such a good job of creating awareness that the corporation cant help but be a call to action. Externalizing machines case study solution case study. 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. This hardhitting, wideranging, innovative, and thoughtprovoking documentary is directed by mark achbar and jennifer abbott and based upon joel bakan s book the corporation. How they do now and how do they used to treat with their employees.
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