Gangs of America : the rise of corporate power and the disabling of democracy / Ted Nace

"Updated with new chapter 'So what's the alternative?'".

Includes bibliographical references and index

Surpassing even the state and the church, the corporation has become the core institution of the modern world. Although its impact is felt in virtually every aspect of our lives, we know little about its history and the origins of its power. Gangs of America fills the gap, tracing the evolution of this revolutionary institution through the behind-the-scenes figures who shaped it. Based on the latest research by academic historians, sociologists, political scientists, and legal scholars, this book is a unique synthesis including both compelling narrative and invaluable reference. Complex political debates about multi-national trade agreements, financial scandals such as the Enron debacle, and scores of specific issues are all tied intimately to the core issue of corporate power. Dealing with any of these issues requires an understanding of how law evolved in response to the revolutionary growth of the corporation. This book aims at strengthening popular understanding of the structural, legal, and historical roots of the corporate phenomenon.