Corporate nationalism

From ArticleWorld

Corporate nationalism is used as shorthand for the belief that corporations are a crucial factor in the development and regulation of a state. This set of political, economic, and philosophical tenets posits a symbiotic relationship between private enterprise and national interests. Here, corporates work for the good of the nation, or at the very least refrain from actions that, even if profit-maximizing, are against the interest of the state and its citizens. In return, they get a business, trading, regulatory, investment and banking, and legal environment that presents as few obstacles as possible for the functioning of business, particularly big business. Corporate nationalism, which has been embraced with particular fervor in Latin America and Asia, is sometimes seen as a counterpart to neoliberalism.

Nation-building tasks and responsibilities are seen as worthy causes to take on, and corporates are rewarded for not moving out production or business processes to cheaper countries. The rewards often take the form of being given a freer hand than private enterprises are in countries not guided by a corporate nationalist vision of development. Tax breaks can follow, as can the aggressive action against citizens' interest groups or trade unions.

Corporate nationalism is increasingly taking the form of public-private partnerships (PPP). From garbage collection to park maintenance, such partnerships are either funded and administered by the private sector and implemented by the public, or everything is worked by an intermediary non-profit organization, or corporate experts aid in public projects. There are many different ways that PPPs can wok. In some regional administrations and cities, PPPs now provide public services traditionally thought to be the domain of government, such as water and heat. While these endeavors are often termed as 'privatized' services, there is debate whether civic facilities and utilities can be privatized if governments are to retain any moral authority, and civil society's citizens, their voice. Like neoliberlaism, corporate nationalism is often seen as promoting the interests of those who are already 'haves'.