The Business Corporation as a Political Actor

Project description

Companies acting as governments: What would happen?

Imagine a shadowy economic and political system controlled by corporations. That is a corporatocracy, in which corporate interests instead of citizens determine what governments do. Business corporations today exercise political power – both internally (towards employees) and externally (towards state, consumers and other actors). So what about this political role? The EU-funded CORPORATOCRACY will answer this question. It will also address the philosophical question of whether such corporate political power, if it exists, can be legitimised. It will focus on three conditions for legitimate ruling: respect of rule of law and human rights, democratic mechanisms of decision-making and requirements of social justice. Can these be applied to corporations? Special focus will be placed on transnational corporations. The findings of this 5-year project will help clarify corporations’ role in solving urgent social challenges.

Field of science

/humanities/philosophy, ethics and religion/philosophy/political philosophy
/social sciences/economics and business

Funding Scheme

ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant

Host institution

UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT

Address

Heidelberglaan 8
3584 CS Utrecht
Netherlands

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

EU contribution

€ 2 000 000

Website

Contact the organisation

Beneficiaries (1)

UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT

Netherlands