The transnational capitalist class / Leslie Sklair.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Sklair, Leslie.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Capitalism.

Capitalism--Social aspects.

Environmental economics.

International business enterprises.

Physical Description:

xi, 335 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Oxford ; Malden, Mass. : Blackwell, 2001.

Summary:

While most of the popular and academic debates explore ideas of globalization, The Transnational Capitalist Class goes one step further and provides theoretically informed empirical research to explain and deconstruct the process of globalization as seen by the corporations themselves.

Using personal interviews with executives and managers from over eighty Fortune Global 500 corporations, as well as already published sources, Sklair demonstrates how globalization works from the perspective of those who control and oppose the major globalizing corporations and their allies in government and the media.

The book explores two major crises of globalization -- class polarization and ecological sustainability -- and shows how the transnational capitalist class attempts to resolve these crises and evaluates its own success and failure. Sklair's unique approach brings a fresh perspective to what has become a key debate of our time.

Contents:

Global System Theory 3

Four Propositions on the Transnational Capitalist Class 5

2 Globalizing Class Theory 10

Theorizing the Dominant Class 10

Structure and Dynamics of the Transnational Capitalist Class 17

Dominant Classes and Dominated Groups 23

"National Interest" and "the National Economy" 29

3 Transnational Corporations and the Global Economy 34

The Global Economy and the Fortune Global 500 36

From "National Companies with Units Abroad" to Globalizing Corporations 47

The Nonrespondents 69

4 Corporate Elites and the Transformation of Foreign Investment 81

The Transformation of Foreign Investment 84

Global Brands 85

The Regulatory Climate 89

Phases of Foreign Direct Investment 96

The Home Base and Foreign Investment: The Case of NAFTA 99

Disinvestment 105

Foreign Investment as a Globalizing Practice 107

5 World Best Practice, Benchmarking, and National Competitiveness 113

World Best Practice, Benchmarking, and Globalization 115

Industry Benchmarking 119

Global Program Benchmarking: Six Sigma and the Quest for Perfection 125

Politicians, Professionals, and the "Competitiveness of Nations" 136

World Best Practice as a Globalizing Practice 140

6 Global Corporate Citizenship 149

Regulating the Corporations: History and Theory 151

Employee Relations 160

Corporate Philanthropy and Community Development 167

Safety and Health of Consumers and Citizens 181

Global Corporate Citizenship as a Globalizing Practice: Deconstructing Shell 184

7 The Transnational Capitalist Class and the Struggle for the Environment 198

History and Theory of Corporate Environmentalism 199

Corporate Capture of the Environmental Movement or Constructive Dialogue: The Creation of a Sustainable Development Historical Bloc 206

Environmental Policies and Practices of Major Corporations 215

Sustainable Development as a Globalizing Ideology 247

8 Global Vision and the Culture-Ideology of Consumerism 255

Consumer-oriented Global Visions for Humanity 257

Industry-oriented Global Visions 270

Organization-oriented Global Visions 273

The Visionary Executive 282

Global Vision as a Globalizing Practice 288

Appendix 1 Fortune Global 500 Corporations (and Subsidiaries) Interviewed, by Business Sector 303

Appendix 2 Other Corporations and Organizations Interviewed 306.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [308]-321) and indexes.

ISBN:

0631224610

0631224629

OCLC:

44509061