Anti-corporate activism isactivism directed against the private sector, particularly largercorporations. It is based on the belief that the activities and impacts ofbig business are detrimental to thepublic good and thedemocratic process.[1]
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International trade andfinancial deregulation facilitatedcorporate globalization. As more economies have embracedfree markets andderegulation, the power and autonomy of corporations have grown.
Opponents of corporate globalization believe that governments need greater powers to control the market, limit or reduce corporate power, and eliminate rising income inequality.[2] Usually on thepolitical left, anti-corporate globalization activists rail againstcorporate power and advocate for reducedincome gaps and improvedeconomic equity.
Anti-corporate activists believe that large multinational corporations gained too much influence by hiring lobbyists to advance their political and economic agendas worldwide and to increase corporate profits.[citation needed]
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The defenders of corporations, such asRon Arnold, highlight that governments legislate in ways thatrestrict the actions of corporations and that lawbreaking companies and executives are routinely caught and punished, usually in the form ofmonetary fines.
Anti-corporate activists often ally with other activists, such asenvironmental activists oranimal-rights activists, in condemning the business practices of organizations such asMcDonald's Corporation (McLibel) and forestry companyGunns Limited (Gunns 20).
In recent years, the number of books (Naomi Klein's 2000No Logo being a well-known example) and films on the subject has increased, such asThe Corporation,[3] which has to a certain extent supported anti-corporate politics.
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An artist critical ofsociopolitical agendas in business is conceptualistHans Haacke.[4]
In June 2008,Condé Nast Publications released an article entitled "The Secret Seven", which listed the top seven anti-corporate web sites. These included:WikiLeaks,Mini-Microsoft,Wal-Mart Watch, Brenda Priddy and Company (automotive spy photos),AppleInsider andMacRumors.[5][6] In 2020, a group called "Save our Elders from Corporate Abuse" was formed onFacebook. The page tried to report and expose businesses that trap senior citizens into predatory loans, perpetual billing for products, or other schemes.
On November 30, 1999, nearly fifty thousand peopleprotested the WTO meetings inSeattle, which disrupted and ended the meetings. Participants communicated their strategies through emails, websites, and other platforms. Some new anti-globalization networks have emerged.[7]
In the United States, anti-corporate globalization movements reemerged after less attention was given to the war in Iraq, resulting in an increase in mass mobilizations.[7]
