The Corporation Documentary: Corporate Power and Democracy

Overview of The Corporation's Central Argument

The Corporation is a documentary that critically explores the role of corporations in society and the global economy. It uses the premise that if corporations were legally persons, their behaviors would be seen as psychopathic, because they put profits before all else — before people, before society's needs, before the environment. Yet governments are virtually controlled by corporations through special interest groups and lobbying firms that represent their interests. Corporations get legislation passed that benefits them through regulatory capture. They muscle out smaller competition and keep the market to themselves in order to increase profits. They benefit from and exploit total war. They are not held responsible — unless slaps on the wrist equate to accountability — when their actions harm the public. Overall, the documentary shows that the corporation is a legal mechanism for investors to grow wealthy without ever having to justify their actions to the public. They can hide behind the corporate veil.

The film provides several examples of grossly problematic corporate behavior. It shows how corporations regularly engage in exploitative labor practices — especially by offshoring labor to the developing world, where labor laws barely exist — as well as environmental degradation, lobbying for favorable laws, and manipulating public opinion through advertising and media control. The documentary argues that the corporation controls or influences virtually every sphere of society, and that this control has devastating effects on democracy and the politics of public opinion.

Corporate Manipulation of Public Opinion and Advertising

The documentary argues that corporations significantly manipulate public opinion through advertising and media control. This power is not merely about selling products or services; rather, it encompasses molding consumer behavior, perceptions, and societal norms in ways that align with corporate interests. In other words, the film suggests that corporations are engaged in systematically conditioning the public to desire and embrace their products — and it is a compelling argument.

Corporations use sophisticated psychological techniques in advertising to shape consumer behavior and generate desire for their products. Some advertising strategies are designed to create perceived needs where none previously existed, which in turn drives demand for new products. As a result, people are not merely passive receivers of information but are steered toward particular beliefs and behaviors — they become consumers whose primary purpose is to purchase what corporations produce. There is no genuine practical need for a car that produces 700 horsepower, but television commercials manufacture that desire through advertising, and automotive media reinforces a car culture that drives the entire industry.

This dynamic is particularly significant when one considers how public opinion influences policy and legislation. If corporations can sway public opinion through their marketing strategies and media influence, they can indirectly shape policies that favor their interests. That is why an informed citizenry is essential for the proper functioning of a democratic society, and the potential manipulation of public opinion by corporations can undermine this (American Government, n.d.).

Corporate Power and the American Political System

When considering the functioning of the American political system, the film presents an argument that could support two opposing viewpoints. On one hand, it depicts a system where corporate influence is unchecked, suggesting that the political system is not working as intended. On the other hand, the film could be interpreted as showing a political system working precisely as designed — protecting property rights and facilitating commerce — albeit with serious unintended negative consequences.

In Federalist No. 10, James Madison argues that factions — groups united by a common interest adverse to the rights of other citizens or the broader community — are inevitable in a free society. The danger arises when a faction gains enough power to undermine the rights of others or the stability of society itself. In Madison's view, a large republic like the United States, with a diverse array of competing interests, would prevent any single faction from gaining too much power.

The Corporation raises serious questions about whether corporations, as a faction, have accumulated precisely the kind of power Madison feared. When one considers the influence corporations wield through economic power, lobbying efforts, and control over media and public opinion, it becomes difficult to argue otherwise. The film contends that corporations have accumulated so much power that they can effectively dictate terms to both society and governments, challenging the balance of power that Madison envisioned. In that sense, the documentary dismantles the Federalist notion of built-in security as something closer to a false assurance.

Corporate dominance can also be seen as a distortion of the pluralistic model of democracy that Madison proposed. Pluralism holds that power should be distributed among many groups in society, ensuring a balance in which no single group can dominate (American Government, n.d.). However, if corporations have gained disproportionate influence, they are skewing that balance and undermining the pluralistic character of democratic governance. The implication is stark: the government increasingly exists to serve business interests rather than the public interest.

This situation raises broader questions about the efficacy of current mechanisms for balancing power and protecting the public interest. It highlights the need for stronger regulations and public pressure to counterbalance corporate influence. Whether the public can apply such pressure is an open question, but examples such as consumer boycotts suggest that economic leverage — spending power wielded collectively — may be one available tool.

Conclusion

Overall, The Corporation is persuasive in its depiction of the problematic behaviors of corporations. It invites viewers to consider the negative impacts of corporate behavior on society and the environment, and to question the extent to which corporations should be permitted to influence policy and public opinion. However, the documentary can be critiqued for its lack of balance and its limited exploration of potential solutions. It illuminates the dark side of corporate power effectively — but it does not meaningfully engage with the other side of the story.

References

American Government. (n.d.). Retrieved from American Government 3e (openstax.org)

The Corporation. The Corporation — YouTube