The New Corporation

The New Corporation examines how modern businesses have rebranded themselves as socially conscious entities while continuing to pursue profit above all else. The book serves as a sequel to Bakan's earlier work, The Corporation. Bakan investigates major corporations' claims of environmental and social responsibility through case studies and interviews. He traces the evolution of corporate behavior and messaging from the 2008 financial crisis through recent social movements and the COVID-19 pandemic. The author presents evidence from corporate boardrooms, activist movements, and policy debates to analyze the gap between companies' public promises and their actual practices. The research spans multiple industries and countries, documenting the expanding influence of private enterprises in public spheres. The book raises fundamental questions about corporate power, democracy, and the relationship between business and society in the 21st century. Its examination of how corporations adapt to criticism while maintaining their essential nature speaks to broader tensions in modern capitalism.

Readers view The New Corporation as a follow-up that documents how corporations have adapted since Bakan's first book. Many note its relevant timing during the COVID-19 pandemic and social movements of 2020. Readers appreciate: - Clear examples of corporate influence on government policy - Research and documentation of corporate social responsibility claims - Analysis of tech companies' growing power - Links between corporate behavior and climate change Common criticisms: - Too similar to the first book - Limited solutions offered - Writing style can be repetitive - Some readers found it overly negative toward business Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (216 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (158 ratings) Sample reader comment: "Bakan provides concrete evidence of how corporations co-opt progressive movements while continuing harmful practices" - Goodreads reviewer Critical review: "The book rehashes many points from The Corporation without breaking new ground" - Amazon reviewer

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The Value of Nothing by Raj Patel An analysis of how market prices fail to reflect true costs and how corporate capitalism shapes economic systems.

The Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshana Zuboff A study of how digital corporations extract and monetize personal data while reshaping human behavior and market dynamics.

The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein An investigation of how corporations exploit natural and economic disasters to implement market-oriented reforms and increase their influence.

🔸 The book is a sequel to Bakan's influential 2004 book "The Corporation" which was also made into an award-winning documentary featuring Noam Chomsky and Milton Friedman 🔸 Joel Bakan is not only an author but also a law professor at the University of British Columbia and a former Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University 🔸 The book argues that modern corporations' claims of social responsibility and environmental consciousness are often a form of "corporate social responsibility washing" - using good deeds to mask harmful business practices 🔸 The research included interviews with over 50 corporate executives, business leaders, and social activists, including CEOs from major companies like Virgin and Ford 🔸 Many of the book's central arguments were proven timely when, shortly after its 2020 publication, multiple corporations faced backlash for promoting social justice while simultaneously engaging in controversial labor practices during the COVID-19 pandemic