In his book WHEN CORPORATIONS RULE THE WORLD, (Kumarian Press 1995) David
Korten has a whole chapter entitled "An Awakened Civil Society". Korten seems
to see civil society as "the people" opposed to "corporate colonialism".
Civil society or the people give power to instititutions such as corporations
and the state only as duly constituted by and accountable to the sovereign
people, as operating according to an appropriate code of morals and ethics, and
producing desirable consequences for the whole. (p. 294)
Desmond Tutu claims that this book is a must read " not by a wild-eyed
idealistic left-winger, but by a sober scion of the establishment with
impeccable credentials."
I don't know he seems like a wild-eyed idealist to me, and sometimes I doubt
his sobriety as well. He is drunk on a Lawrence Welk bubbly environmentalism
that for the most part ignores class conflict, gender and race. He seems to
embrace an idealistic spiritualism lacking in clarity but no doubt appealing to
many. I just wonder too how solid his research is. He seems to contradict
himself at times as well. For example, he slams modern corporate culture for
producing standard products all the same--ignoring the fact that this
mass production has put many useful products within the reach of the average
consumer. In a later chapter he suggests the state should mandate standard soft
drink (and beer) bottles that would be re-usable etc.
Of course much of what Korten has to say is important and well-worth
emphasizing: the fact that the emphasis on growth threatens the environment and
the livelihood of future generations, that it does not result in the
elimination of poverty nor just income distribution, that corporate dominance
threatens democratic control of social institutions, etc. etc. but the book's
positive thrust seems to me idealistic, even dangerous, playing on the
heartstrings of the small is beautiful, local control, sustainable development,
aint community great, groups but avoiding many touchy issues. I am sure
many Bosnian ethnic cleansers are high on community and local control.
Where does race, gender, class, come into all this new global consciousness and
networking?
Cheers, Ken Hanly
