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. In his provocative book the corporation and movie of the same title, professor joel bakan argues that corporation would be a psychopath. Heres a sample from joel bakans the corporation, the book on which his award winning documentary of the same name was based. The corporations legally defined mandate is to pursue, relentlessly and without exception, its own selfinterest, regardless of the often harmful consequences it might cause to others. There are several notable points that bakan failed to mention regarding the general. Joel conrad bakan is an americancanadian writer, jazz musician, filmmaker, and professor at the peter a. The corporation by joel bakan overdrive rakuten overdrive. Joel conrad bakan born 1959 is a canadian lawyer and writer. Joel bakan the corporations rise to dominance 1 2 3 4 5. The pathological pursuit of profit and power comes this deeply informed and unflinching look at the way corporations have slyly rebranded themselves as socially conscious entities ready to tackle societys problems, while ceo compensation soars, income inequality is at alltime highs, and democracy sits in a.
Joel bakan is an author, filmmaker and a professor of law at the university of british columbia. Delightfully presented, powerful, insightful, and important information. Joel bakans book is a brilliantly argued account of the corporations pathological pursuit of profit and power. Joel bakan is professor of law at the university of british columbia and an internationally renowned legal authority. This interview was conducted on 5 august 2008 by dr wayne visser, senior associate, cambridge programme for sustainability joel bakan. The documentary examines the modernday corporation. 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 corporation has become a vehicle by which good men and women. Joel bakan is professor of law at the university of british columbia. Yahya introduction if the corporation were a person, what would its personality be. The corporation by joel bakan free essays studymode. The corporation the 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. Produced in association with produced with the financial participation of produced with the participation of produced with the assistance of. The pathological pursuit of profit and power, during the filming of the documentary. 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 by joel bakan 2004, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. The pathological pursuit of profit and power discusses the book and the documentary with journalist marc glassman. 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.
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. The inspiration for the film that won the 2004 sundance film festival audience award for best. Joel bakan celebrity profile check out the latest joel bakan photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes. The pathological pursuit of profit and power by joel bakan lisa kemmerer calls corporations to account under the guidance of joel bakan. Noam chomsky the corporation is farenheit 911 for people who think. The corporation and movie of the same title, professor joel bakan argues that corporation would be a psychopath. The corporation is a book authored by joel bakan, a filmmaker, author and a law professor at the university of british columbia, the book was published in february 2004. Pdf 2007 rationality, morality and joel bakans the corporation. The genius of the corporation as a business form, and the reason for its remarkable rise over the last three centuries, was and is its capacity to combine the capital, and thus the economic power, of unlimited numbers of people. Joel bakan is the author of the books the corporation and childhood under siege. A fast clip shows the interiors of an office building. The corporation book by joel bakan official publisher page. The corporation suffered its first fullblown legitimacy crisis in the wake of the earlytwentiethcentury merger movement, when, for the first time, many americans realized that corporations, now turned behemoths, threatened to overwhelm their social institutions and governments.
Joel bakan author joel bakan is professor of law at the university of british columbia. This paper explores joel bakans film and book critique of the corporation. They glorify themselves with buildings and displays 2. Moreover, hirschman has suggested that economists have failed to appreciate the extent. The film starts with the premise that corporations have been given the rights of a legal person, so one must evaluate what kind of person is the corporation. 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. The corporation joel bakan presents arguments 872 words. 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 corporation is a documentary film by mark achbar, jennifer abbott and joel bakan, and it has. The pathological pursuit of profit and power by joel bakan. 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, was published in over 20 languages, became a bestseller in several countries and inspired a feature documentary film. At the heart of bakans argument is the idea that, since its legal personification during the mid1800s, the corporation has risen relentlessly to become the dominant institution in. Joel bakan interest, regardless of the often harmful consequences it.
What a fun way to fathom a deep and often dark subject. Joel bakan chapter 1, the corporations rise to dominance, p. Joel bakan is a professor of law at the university of british columbia, and an internationally renowned legal scholar and commentator. We have, over the last three hundred years constructed a remarkably efficient wealthcreating machine, but it is now out of control. 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. Posts about joel bakan the corporation written by mrkooenglish. The tvo logo appears on the lower right corner of the screen. A former rhodes scholar and law clerk to chief justice brian dickson of the supreme court of canada, with law degrees from the universities of oxford, dalhousie, and harvard. The corporation the pathological pursuit of profit and power by.
The book is an account of reform guided by deep and wide research giving insider views and. An internationally renowned legal authority, bakan has written widely on law and its social and economic impact. Corporation was its name, and it was an impressive allout attack on forprofit corporations. This sample focused on the push to privatize education. The pathological pursuit of profit and power an amazing lesson in trueworld economics.
The new corporation by joel bakan overdrive rakuten. Eminent canadian law professor and legal theorist joel bakan contends that todays corporation is a pathological institution, a dangerous possessor of the. The most powerful class of institution on earth, the corporation, is by any reasonable. 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. 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. Joel bakan has performed a valuable service to corporations everywhere by holding up a mirror for them to see their destructive selves as others see them.
The corporation is a documentary film by mark achbar, jennifer abbott and joel bakan, and it has received dozens of awards in film festivals around the world. An eminent law professor and legal theorist, bakan contends that the corporation is. What was the difference between the partnership form and the corporation. Corp by bakan, joel and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. New edition what would the world be like if its ruling elite was insane. On a conference room, three executives sit at a large chair, watching president george w. The corporation is a slim handbook telling you everything you need to know about corporate power in six short, easily accessible chapters, accompanying one of the most powerful and engaging documentaries of the year.
Joel bakan of ubc law school discusses the ideas in his new book childhood under siege. 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. A former rhodes scholar and law clerk to chief justice brian dickson of the supreme court of canada, bakan has. Joel conrad bakan born 1959 is an americancanadian writer, jazz musician, filmmaker, and professor at the peter a. Pdf the business corporation is at the centre of the modern global. As incisive as eric schlossers bestselling fast food nation, as rigorous as joseph e. Allard school of law at the university of british columbia born in lansing, michigan, and raised for most of his childhood in east lansing, michigan, where his parents, paul and rita bakan, were both longtime professors in psychology at michigan state. How does bakan compare corporations to the church and the monarchy in other times. Critically analyze joel bakans argument in the book the. Joel bakan is a canadian lawyer and author, professor of law at the university of british columbia, he holds a masters degree from harvard university and has a solid background in canadian constitutional law. Allard school of law at the university of british columbia. 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.
Joel bakans critically acclaimed book, the corporation. The corporation, written by bakan and cocreated with mark achbar, was a critical and box office success and won numerous awards, including best foreign. The pathological pursuit of profit and power by joel bakan and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Eminent canadian law professor and legal theorist joel bakan contends that todays corporation is a pathological institution, a dangerous possessor of the great. They determine what we eat, watch, wear, work, do and we are surrounded by their ideology, culture, iconography. Joel bakan is an author, filmmaker and a professor of law at the university of british columbia whose work examines the social, economic, and political dimensions of law. I read a book on the weekend called the corporation, the pathelogical pursuit of profit and power by joel bakan. It outlines the importance of profit in business and how ruthless corporations are willing to be in order to bring in substantial revenue. More than 10 years ago, the canadian documentary film the corporation, written by university of british columbia professor of law joel bakan.
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