Book review: When Corporations Rule the World – David Korten (2001)

When Corporations Rule the World argues that economic globalisation has concentrated the power to govern global corporations and financial markets and detached them from accountability to the human interest.

David Korten questions the free market model and explains how corporations have reconstructed values and institutions to serve their own purposes. He argues that this has had devastating consequences on both people and the planet and the many are impoverished because of a powerful few that have put our future at risk.

The author’s analysis is informative and he argues his opinions and points well, backing them up with examples. The complex nature of the subjects covered are well explained, making the book accessible.

This book stands out from other in the space because Korten remains optimistic about the future and sets out a plan of action. Despite focussing on the US, many of the actions and consequences are felt around the world because of globalisation and the issues reflect those that way face in the UK.

The new edition of the book contains a new preface, introduction, chapters and epilogue, giving readers more up to date information and examples and showing how the issues discussed in the book progressed between when it was first published in 1995 to 2001.

When Corporations Rule the World is a must read for those that want to understand what is wrong with the current economic picture and learn about an alternative route that could benefit the whole of the planet.