Politics of the Corporation. (7th August 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Veldman, Jeroen
• Is Part Of: British journal of management. Volume 24(2013)Supplement 1
• Page Start: S18
• Page End: S30
• Publication Date: 2013-08-07
• Subjects: Management -- Periodicals; 658.00941
• DOI: 10.1111/1467-8551.12024
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1045-3172

Abstract

Abstract : The corporate form and its capacity for agency is recognized in political theory, but not adequately understood. As a result, important shifts in the relative position of the state and the corporate form are not addressed. Starting with a historical exploration of the theory of the corporation, I show that the corporate form relies on multiple theoretical backgrounds, which makes it inconsistent. An important part of this inconsistency is the dominance of a post‐1970s theory of the corporate form, which formed the background for New Public Management. This theory supported a reduced status of the state and its regulatory powers and an increase of the relative power of the corporate form. I evaluate some consequences of this inconsistent theory for the contemporary debate with regard to the 'demise of the state'.