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From the impacts of market integration on national sovereignity to the influence of corporations on the democratic process, corporations have profoundly altered the landscape of contemporary politics. Many argue that the very institutions of democracy, citizenship and government are threatened in unprecedented ways by the growth of corporate power. Within North America and around the world, one of the most significant political movements of our time has clashed repeatedly with the police and military at several international meetings of the institutions of global capitalism and leaders of large corporations. The Corporation documents these political dynamics in several international geographical contexts, examining a range of specific issues. The discussion questions examine how corporations are related to these key political trends, both nationally and internationally. |
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| 1 |
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| Describe the role that profitability has come to play in governing cultural and political organizations. Give examples from the film to support your position. What other ways can you imagine for organizing economic activity? |
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| Chapter |
Chapter Title |
Scene Reference |
| 1 |
What Is a Corporation? |
10:00:00:00 |
| 2 |
Birth |
10:06:27:16 |
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| 2 |
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| In the film, the corporation is described as a family and a team. First, explain whether you agree that the corporate social responsibility approach is limited. Refer to different theories of community in your readings and discuss what kind of political community the corporation itself might be. |
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Chapter |
Chapter Title |
Scene Reference |
| 1 |
What Is a Corporation? |
10:00:00:00 |
| 2 |
Birth |
10:06:27:16 |
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| 3 |
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| How would corporations be regulated differently according to Marxist, Keynesian and Friedmanian principles? Refer to specific passages by each thinker and specific cases examined in the documentary. |
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| Chapter |
Chapter Title |
Scene Reference |
| 3 |
A Legal “Person” |
10:10:52:28 |
| 5 |
Harm to Workers: Sweatshops |
10:18:08:23 |
| 8 |
Mindset |
10:46:52:15 |
| 10 |
Boundary Issues |
10:56:36:18 |
| 18 |
Expansion Plan |
12:16:08:01 |
| 21 |
Democracy Ltd. |
12:29:18:06 |
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| 4 |
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| The phrase “good corporate citizen” is used in the documentary and occurs widely in the public relations literature published by corporations. Referring to your course readings, compare the corporation as “citizen” to other accounts of the nature and form of citizenship. |
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| Chapter |
Chapter Title |
Scene Reference |
| 3 |
A Legal “Person” |
10:10:52:28 |
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| 5 |
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| The documentary suggests that government regulation of corporations is a better approach to corporate power than relying on “corporate responsibility.” Economist Milton Friedman suggests in the film that social responsibility is not corporations’ area of expertise, nor is it democratic for them to decide. First, say a few words about why you think the corporate social responsibility approach is so limited. Respond to the argument that after consumer movements of the 1960s, corporations had more success in their lobbying in Washington. |
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| Chapter |
Chapter Title |
Scene Reference |
| 4 |
Externalities |
10:15:56:00 |
| 6 |
The Pathology of Commerce |
10:40:30:06 |
| 7 |
Monstrous Obligations |
10:41:19:08 |
| 8 |
Mindset |
10:46:52:15 |
| 12 |
Perception Management |
11:12:40:03 |
| 15 |
Triumph of the Shill |
11:21:42:12 |
| 20 |
Hostile Takeover |
12:26:35:11 |
| 21 |
Democracy Ltd. |
12:29:18:06 |
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| 6 |
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| “There was a time when many things were considered too essential for public good to be business opportunities protected by tradition and public regulation.” The documentary discusses the enclosure movements in Europe when “the commons” was transformed into private property. Chomsky states that “the commons must be protected” while Michael Walker of the Fraser Institute says it can be protected only when privately owned. Research the concept of “the commons” and consider several descriptions of the role of the state and its legal institutions in protecting it. According to the documentary, are public good and the commons best protected by government or by corporate ownership? Consider several contemporary and historical theories of the function of the nation-state in your readings and describe why it may or may not be an effective custodian of the public good and the commons. |
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| Chapter |
Chapter Title |
Scene Reference |
| 10 |
Boundary Issues |
10:56:36:18 |
| 18 |
Expansion Plan |
12:16:08:01 |
| 23 |
Prognosis |
12:54:28:19 |
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| 7 |
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| One of the central premises of the documentary is that corporations today have become more powerful than democratically-elected governments. What are some of the ways in which the activities of corporations are portrayed in the documentary as anti-democratic? Describe how the relationship between corporations and democracy is described in the course readings. Discuss how corporate involvement in the political process in the form of lobbying and interest group activities affects public policy formulation and the democratic process. |
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| Chapter |
Chapter Title |
Scene Reference |
| 18 |
Expansion Plan |
12:16:08:01 |
| 19 |
Taking the Right Side |
12:20:09:18 |
| 20 |
Hostile Takeover |
12:26:35:11 |
| 21 |
Democracy Ltd. |
12:29:18:06 |
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| 8 |
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| Corporations have a significant influence on the evolution of the international political system, the process of globalization, and the changing role of the nation-state. How do the different theories of international relations such as neo-realism and neo-liberalism describe the role of corporations in international politics? What kind of relationship do corporations have with international institutions such as the World Bank, IMF and UN? How might these institutions change as to better address the issues raised by the documentary? Connect with specific references to course readings and the film. |
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| Chapter |
Chapter Title |
Scene Reference |
| 5 |
Harm to Workers: Sweatshops |
10:18:08:23 |
| 18 |
Expansion Plan |
12:16:08:01 |
| 20 |
Hostile Takeover |
12:26:35:11 |
| 21 |
Democracy Ltd. |
12:29:18:06 |
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| 9 |
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| Discuss examples of community organizing and measures taken to limit and regulate corporate power highlighted in the film. How would you argue these actions successfully enact democratic accountability? |
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| Chapter |
Chapter Title |
Scene Reference |
| 22 |
Psycho Therapies |
12:37:43:13 |
| 23 |
Prognosis |
12:54:28:22 |
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