A corporatocracy is a system of government where corporations control the direction and government of a country. While no true corporatocracies exist, many governments are criticized for being heavily influenced by corporations. Companies often contribute money to political candidates and parties, creating a sense of debt and obligation. Some argue that corporations are just conceptual entities, and it’s the people behind them who hold the power. Those who believe in corporatocracies argue that no individual or group should have that much influence over a government, and decisions are made by a small number of people within the company. Campaign contributions can be seen as a way to buy a politician’s vote without making claims.
A corporatocracy is a system of government in which a corporation, group of corporations, or corporation-run entities control the direction and government of a country, either directly or indirectly. While officially there are no true corporatocracies in the world, many people often criticize governments for being de facto corporatocracies heavily influenced by corporations. Proving that a government is actually a corporatocracy would probably be difficult, however, so this concept is mostly discussed in circles of critics, political analysts and conspiracy theorists.
Many governments in places where economic systems are based on free enterprise have been accused of being corporatocracies. In fact, many companies contribute substantial sums of money to certain political candidates and causes. In many people’s minds, this creates a sense of debt that the politician is obligated to repay in the form of political favors.
Adding to this mentality is the fact that many companies often give money to competing political parties and candidates. This is seen as those companies hedging their bets on the outcome of an election and trying to get on the good side of whichever candidate is elected to office. Some people believe this is one of the hallmarks of a corporatocracy.
Other people believe that the term “corporatocracy” shouldn’t be used, because corporations are primarily conceptual entities that possess no real power. In fact, some people argue, it’s the people behind those corporations who hold the power and wield their influence. In this sense, a corporatocracy is nothing more than a democracy where people fight for their best interests.
Those who reject the idea of a corporatocracy often argue that the only way to have one would be if a government made it legal to buy a politician’s vote. In this way, the company would effectively have a direct vote on key political issues. All true democracies, however, have made it illegal to buy votes.
People who believe that corporatocracies might actually exist argue that no individual or group of individuals should have that much influence over a government. Furthermore, they argue that decisions about what to push and who to support are made by a relatively small number of people within the company, rather than all of its employees and shareholders. Therefore, although thousands of people can form a corporation, only a few of them have the power to speak up for the corporation and advocate issues on behalf of the corporation.
Also, many people believe that it doesn’t take an overt effort to buy a politician’s vote. Making a substantial campaign contribution to a certain politician could be seen as sending a signal to that politician that the money is there if he or she votes the way the company wants. Conversely, the money could be donated to an opponent if the vote does not go in favor of the company. In this way, the purchase of a vote can be achieved without ever making claims, according to those who believe that corporatocracies exist.
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