--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Corporations now govern society, perhaps…" description: "\"Corporations now govern society, perhaps more than governments themselves do; yet ironically, it is their very power, much of which they have gained th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bf/joel-bakan-28438_corporations_corporations-now-govern-society-perhaps_470528.jpg" --- # Corporations now govern society, perhaps more than… ![“Corporations now govern society, perhaps more than governments themselves do; yet ironically, it is their very power, much of which they have gained through economic globalization, that makes them vulnerable.” quote by Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bf/joel-bakan-28438_corporations_corporations-now-govern-society-perhaps_470528.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bf/joel-bakan-28438_corporations_corporations-now-govern-society-perhaps_470528.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bf/joel-bakan-28438_corporations_corporations-now-govern-society-perhaps_470528.jpg) > “Corporations now govern society, perhaps more than governments themselves do; yet ironically, it is their very power, much of which they have gained through economic globalization, that makes them vulnerable.” [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Corporations wield power similar to governments, yet their global economic roots create vulnerabilities that can be exploited. **In simple terms:** Corporations are powerful yet fragile. Key Takeaway Recognize corporate influence and its limits. Themes power globalization vulnerability economics Mood critical inquisitive Type political economic When to use this quote - policy making - consumer activism - investment decisions - regulatory reform Key Concepts corporate governance systemic risk Questions to Reflect On - How does globalization expose corporate weakness? - What safeguards can reduce corporate overreach? A Different Perspective Corporations may adapt to mitigate vulnerabilities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Corporations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporations/) [Corporations Govern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporations-govern-4067685/) [Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic/) [Economic globalization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-globalization/) [Globalization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/globalization/) [Globalization Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/globalization-makes-4067686/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Governments Ironically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governments-ironically-4067687/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Vulnerable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vulnerable/) ## Related quotes > [“Globalization makes it impossible for modern societies to collapse in isolation, as did Easter Island and the Greenland Norse in the past. Any society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-diamond/globalization-makes-it-impossible-for-modern-societies-to-collapse-in/) [Jared Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-diamond/) > [Globalization makes our economy, our health, and our security all captive to events on the other side of the world. And no other nation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/globalization-makes-our-economy-our-health-and-our-security-all/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Globalization is a process by societies, cultures and economies in different regions across the world have become one. What triggers globalization are communication, transportation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/globalization-is-a-process-by-societies-cultures-and-economies-in/) [Author Name](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/author-name/) > [We are committed with our lives to building a different model and a different future for humanity, the Earth, and other species. We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maude-barlow/we-are-committed-with-our-lives-to-building-a-different-model-and-a/) [Maude Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maude-barlow/) > [The greatest weapon of mass destruction is corporate economic globalization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-ausubel/the-greatest-weapon-of-mass-destruction-is-corporate-economic/) [Kenny Ausubel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-ausubel/) > [An active propaganda machinery controlled bv the world's largest corporations constantly reassures us that consumerism is the path to happiness, governmental restraint of market…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-korten/an-active-propaganda-machinery-controlled-bv-the-world-s-largest/) [David Korten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-korten/) > [The raw fact is that every successful example of economic development this past century ... has taken place via globalization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/the-raw-fact-is-that-every-successful-example-of-economic-development/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [The globalization of the capital market is actually part of economic globalization. This will create a change in the entire world economy, not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-grasso/the-globalization-of-the-capital-market-is-actually-part-of-economic/) [Richard Grasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-grasso/) > [Much of the criticism of economic globalization has centered on factory labor abuses. But the majority of the world's poor are not employed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bornstein/much-of-the-criticism-of-economic-globalization-has-centered-on/) [David Bornstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bornstein/) > [It is a government of the people by the people for the people no longer it is a government of corporations by corporations for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/it-is-a-government-of-the-people-by-the-people-for-the-people-no/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [The triumph of economic globalization has inspired a wave of techno-savvy investigative activists who are as globally minded as the corporations they track.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/the-triumph-of-economic-globalization-has-inspired-a-wave-of-techno/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [Globalization is a complex issue, partly because economic globalization is only one part of it. Globalization is greater global closeness, and that is cultural,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/globalization-is-a-complex-issue-partly-because-economic/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [Economic globalization creates wealth, but only for the elite who benefit from the surge of consolidations, mergers, global scale technology, and financial activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-roddick/economic-globalization-creates-wealth-but-only-for-the-elite-who/) [Anita Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-roddick/) > [The myth of the inevitability of economic globalization is based largely on the work of Milton Friedman, and easily the most underreported story of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-myth-of-the-inevitability-of-economic-globalization-is-based/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [As economic globalization gathers momentum, China and the United States have become highly interdependent economically. Such economic relations would not enjoy sustained, rapid growth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xi-jinping/as-economic-globalization-gathers-momentum-china-and-the-united/) [Xi Jinping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xi-jinping/) ## More by Joel Bakan > [The corporation is not an independent "person" with its own rights, needs, and desires that regulators must respect. It is a state created tool…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/the-corporation-is-not-an-independent-person-with-its-own-rights/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [The corporation, like the psychopathic personality it resembles, is programmed to exploit others for profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/the-corporation-like-the-psychopathic-personality-it-resembles-is/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [As a psychopathic creature, the corporation can neither recognize nor act upon moral reasons to refrain from harming others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/as-a-psychopathic-creature-the-corporation-can-neither-recognize-nor/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [“The problem with capitalism is that "we have a global theology without morality, without a Bible." And that's dangerous, he warns - "we're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/the-problem-with-capitalism-is-that-we-have-a-global-theology-without/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [The notion that business and government are and should be partners is ubiquitous, unremarkable, and repeated like a mantra by leaders in both domains.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/the-notion-that-business-and-government-are-and-should-be-partners-is/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [By leveraging their freedom from the bonds of location, corporations could now dictate the economic policy of governments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/by-leveraging-their-freedom-from-the-bonds-of-location-corporations/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [Dodge v. Ford still stands for the legal principal that managers and directors have a legal duty to put the shareholders' interests above all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/dodge-v-ford-still-stands-for-the-legal-principal-that-managers-and/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [These are the elements of an emerging order that may prove to be as dangerous as any fundamentalism that history has produced. For in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/these-are-the-elements-of-an-emerging-order-that-may-prove-to-be-as/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [Governments can can send inspectors to companies. Governments can put legal requirements in place to disclose information that consumers and workers and other interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/governments-can-can-send-inspectors-to-companies-governments-can-put/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [The whole difficulty I think that that we're facing now is the question of who is going to ensure that corporations are accountable. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/the-whole-difficulty-i-think-that-that-we-re-facing-now-is-the/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [As the corporation's size and power grew, so did the need to assuage people's fears of it. The corporation suffered its first full-blown legitimacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/as-the-corporation-s-size-and-power-grew-so-did-the-need-to-assuage/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [The corporation was originally conceived as a public institution whose purpose was to serve national interests and advance the public good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/the-corporation-was-originally-conceived-as-a-public-institution/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [I think Google's founders are both a couple of guys with some high ideals which have been to some degree reflected in the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/i-think-google-s-founders-are-both-a-couple-of-guys-with-some-high/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [As institutional psychopaths, corporations are wont to remove obstacles that get into their way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/as-institutional-psychopaths-corporations-are-wont-to-remove/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [Quotes from the Underground is a remarkable resource and must-read for writers, researchers, activists and indeed anyone who embraces progressive values and hopes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/quotes-from-the-underground-is-a-remarkable-resource-and-must-read/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) [Explore all 19 Joel Bakan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) ## More Corporations quotes > [It makes no sense to talk of the social obligations of the corporation without reference to its economic obligations. The two are intertwined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-r-raymond/it-makes-no-sense-to-talk-of-the-social-obligations-of-the/) [Lee R. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-r-raymond/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Everything affects hip-hop. The question is, how does it affect the money that corporations are going to invest to put out different kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/everything-affects-hip-hop-the-question-is-how-does-it-affect-the/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) > [Corporations have nothing to do with values, and they know it, and sometimes say it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kierans/corporations-have-nothing-to-do-with-values-and-they-know-it-and/) [Eric Kierans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kierans/) > [Corporations invest in sophisticated CRM, or Customer Relationship Management, programs to effectively oversee their relationship with their customers at every point during the buying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-ostrofsky/corporations-invest-in-sophisticated-crm-or-customer-relationship/) [Marc Ostrofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ostrofsky/) > [“Whatever happened in those more than one hundred years, from the time my great-great-great grandfather studied law to the time when my own father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwenn-wright/whatever-happened-in-those-more-than-one-hundred-years-from-the-time/) [Gwenn Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwenn-wright/) > [I am somewhat influenced by the years that I've spent trying to actually get things done, whether it was reforming education in Arkansas or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-somewhat-influenced-by-the-years-that-i-ve-spent-trying-to/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [There are questions as to whether it should even exist. Who should corporations be responsive to, the management of a corporation? Theoretically they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-questions-as-to-whether-it-should-even-exist-who-should/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“Subsequently there ensues an epoch of complex, proliferating intrigues and conspiracies among the ranks of double agents, whose agendas become so densely intertwined that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ligotti/subsequently-there-ensues-an-epoch-of-complex-proliferating-intrigues/) [Thomas Ligotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ligotti/) > [I'm not only a fan of Apple products, I have stock in the company. I think Steve Jobs has started one of the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-rock/i-m-not-only-a-fan-of-apple-products-i-have-stock-in-the-company-i/) [Kid Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-rock/) > [At Epcot Center the Disney corporation has focused its attention on two things greatly in need of Disneyfication: the tedious future and the annoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/at-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-focused-its-attention-on/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Since FDR's New Deal, corporations and wealthy families have been non-stop finding new ways to get tax breaks, deregulation and entitlements from the government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mckay/since-fdr-s-new-deal-corporations-and-wealthy-families-have-been-non/) [Adam McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-mckay/) > [There's a whole journalistic-industrial complex dedicated to keeping newsprint, TV screens and radio waves clean of destabilizing scoops damaging to corporations or the state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-cockburn/there-s-a-whole-journalistic-industrial-complex-dedicated-to-keeping/) [Alexander Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-cockburn/) > [They're counting on your patriotism to distract you from their plunder. They're counting on you to be standing at attention with your hand over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/they-re-counting-on-your-patriotism-to-distract-you-from-their/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) [Browse all 1,673 Corporations quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporations/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Corporations now govern society, perhaps more than governments themselves do; yet ironically, it is their very power, much of which they have gained through economic globalization, that makes them vulnerable.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joel Bakan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/corporations-now-govern-society-perhaps-more-than-governments/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Corporations" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/corporations-now-govern-society-perhaps-more-than-governments/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bf/joel-bakan-28438_corporations_corporations-now-govern-society-perhaps_470528.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bf/joel-bakan-28438_corporations_corporations-now-govern-society-perhaps_470528.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bf/joel-bakan-28438_corporations_corporations-now-govern-society-perhaps_470528.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Corporations now govern society, perhaps more than governments themselves do; yet ironically, it is their…” — Joel Bakan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Joel Bakan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Corporations now govern society, perhaps more...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/corporations-now-govern-society-perhaps-more-than-governments/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/corporations-now-govern-society-perhaps-more-than-governments/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```