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The Corporate Threat to Democracy

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The Corporate Threat to Democracy BOOKS The corporate threat to democracy Sharon Beder. BEN MALINA grave danger. However, having read Global Spin: The Corporate Assault Ben Malina is a science graduate the book, I am also much more aware on Environmentalism. with an interest in social issues. of the situation, and much less likely Scribe Publications, 1997. He currently works for an to fall for the thin veneer of credibili- environmental organisation. ty/integrity/independence that cor- ‘This is such an important book that porate interest attempt to purchase for I would put it on every school cur- and apply to their self serving argu- riculum’ John Pilger ments. Awareness is basically the only way to combat the threat to democracy posed by the action of vested ‘The most important contribution to the environ- (economic) interest, and the only way to save this soci- mental debate I have ever read’ David Edwards ety from destroying the natural environment upon which it depends. This is precisely why this book is so arely does a book live up to the songs of praise important, and also why it is so disturbing that the pub- Rprinted on its back cover. This one does. Sharon lic forum, particularly the mass media, has been so com- Beder has written a very important and disturbing book. promised. I urge everyone to read it — because it is not ‘just about With all this talk of vested interests, subversion of the environment’ (although it is a very important envi- the democratic system, and the compromising of the ronmental book), it is about how our democracy is being integrity of the public forum, it is hard to escape the subverted. It is about why we feel increasingly power- conclusion that the book is about a conspiracy. As much less in our own society. Reading the book — being aware as I would like to avoid the stigma of such a claim, I of what is happening — is the first step we, as citizens cannot, for this book is very much about how corpo- in a democracy under threat, can take to regain control rate interests have conspired against the public’s of our future. increasing concern for the environment in order to fur- In exposing the corporate assault upon environ- ther and protect their own ends. mentalism Sharon Beder documents how the law is The 1995 edition of the Australian Concise Oxford being systematically abused for political ends and how Dictionary defines conspiracy as ‘a secret plan to com- corporate interests have compromised the integrity and mit a crime or do harm, often for political ends’. The diversity of opinion expressed in the public forum. Thus corporate activity detailed in the book is secret in the the book is one of several that deals with the corporate sense that it is rarely reported and certainly not publi- subversion of the democratic system, placing Beder cised (though I don’t know how often the protagonists amongst the likes of Noam Chomsky, John Ralston Saul meet in deserted warehouses). The ends are definitely and John Pilger. Her work complements the work of political, and they certainly involve harming or defeat- these esteemed thinkers, in that she focuses upon a spe- ing democratic principals, systems, and processes. Some cific issue which corporate interests feel threatened by of the methods are verging on the criminal, in the sense — the public’s increasing awareness of and concern for that they break the spirit of the law (though perhaps the environment — and documents the corporate not so often the letter). response. She provides reasoned, elegant, and impec- However the important and interesting distinction cably argued theories regarding the threat to democ- is that although, particularly at the smaller scale, many racy posed by increasingly powerful and unregulated of the outcomes are very much part of a plan (ie a result corporations not only with evidence of their subversion of the conscious and coordinated efforts of individu- of the democratic system, but a veritable case study of als and organisations), some of the outcomes, particu- how their power over democracy is gained and how it larly those at the larger scale, are probably not planned is used to hinder those democratic movements (in this as such (ie not the result of a conscious and coordinated case the environmental movement) which corporate effort) but rather a more cultural phenomenon, an emer- interests perceive as a threat. gent property of inherently selfish acts. For instance, if After having read this book I am convinced that the allowed to, those in powerful positions tend to appoint democratic system and thus the environment are in underlings that will further, or at least not hinder, their AUSTRALIAN RATIONALIST • Number 50 PAGE 39 cause (for example a powerful media tycoon is unlike- highly credible and damning information. Indeed her ly to approve of the appointment of an editor who views book is in a sense the investigation of a conspiracy the- lack of media diversity as a threat to democracy). This ory. is precisely one of the phenomena John Ralston Saul The content of the book could hardly be more cur- talks about in his book The Unconscious Civilisation, the rent — consider, for example, the following recent fact that, historically, the rich/powerful/influential tend events: to reward and to surround themselves with (and hence • the unmasking of deals between radio presenters and be surrounded by) like minded individuals. Conse- financial institutions (and various other associations) quently, because of their vested interest in the status quo, to get favourable editorial coverage; they are all likely to be in consensus regarding the • the waterfront dispute mentioned above, brought importance of furthering their own interests (often at about by the federal government allegedly conspir- the expense of the interests of others). So that the people ing with corporate interests (the MUA website has that the influential and powerful have day to day con- some very telling documentation); tact with are all likely to be pursuing similar political • the National Association of Forestry Industries ends. (NAFI) attempting to stop the sale of a book detail- Conspiracy theories are, by their very nature, diffi- ing how you can build with eco-friendly timbers; cult to substantiate. Currently our society seems to be • the decision by the world heritage committee not to enamoured with them as forms of entertainment (eg The place Kakadu on the world heritage in danger list XFiles, Matrix). Many of them in popular culture are so despite the fact that all the reports from its inde- convoluted and lacking in credible information that sup- pendent scientific advisory board recommended that ports the premise that they are probably furphies. Thus it do so (after extensive lobbying by the Australian people are becoming increasingly sceptical about such government using approximately $1 million of theories, and more ready to dismiss them out of hand Australian taxpayers funds even though over two- (myself included). However, the fact is that conspira- thirds of the Australian population oppose the mine); cies do occur, and some conspiracies that have been • continuing attempts to privatise the Victorian edu- alleged, but not substantiated or properly (ie fully and cation system under the guise of ‘self-governing publicly) investigated, are disturbing (eg from the still schools’ and the fact that in at least one recent and unresolved asassination of JKK to the recent case that controversial case (Blackburn High School) the Vic- the MUA filed against the government and Patrick torian Minister for Education brought forward the Stevedores alleging conspiracy with regard to an implementation of the school council’s disputed deci- attempt to destroy waterfront unions — unfortunate- sion after having been presented with a petition ly the related industrial dispute was settled separate- signed by a significant proportion of the parent pop- ly and part of the settlement was that the MUA would ulation asking that the implementation be delayed end its legal action so the evidence for conspiracy was so that the school community could further inform never subject to the public scrutiny of the courts). themselves about the consequences in order to dis- In a democracy it is vital that alleged conspiracies cuss and re-evaluate the decision; are fully and publicly investigated so that real con- • the watering down of freedom of information laws spiracies are exposed, otherwise public confidence in in order to protect ‘sensitive’ corporate information ‘the system’ will inevitably wain (I would suggest pub- being threatened by the public interest (should the lic confidence in our society is declining). We should premier be reminded that corporations do not exist not be paralysed by paranoia and spend all our lives without a public, not the other way around, so the investigating every conspiracy theory ever suggested, public interest should be paramount?); nor should we dismiss all theories out of hand. Ocams • attacks upon the powers and independence of attor- razor (the simplest explanation is usually the correct neys general, public prosecutors, and government one) can be a useful aid in working out which theories auditors, etc. are worth investigating and which are worth discussing. Beder’s book starts by putting the current environ- However conspiracies are not always simple and I mental debate, or rather the lack thereof, into per- would rather err on the side of investigating too many spective. It provides a brief history of the fluctuating rather than too few conspiracy theories. In the end you fortunes of the environmental movement, sets the scene just have to make the best decision regarding their plau- by documenting the corporate response to each new sibility based upon the credible information that you turn, and reveals the extent to which that response influ- have at hand, yet this is precisely what is classically the enced future changes.
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