Business and Society: A Critical Introduction

Corporations dominate our worlds. They employ us, sell to us and influence how we think and who we vote for. All aspects of this relationship are explored, from an historical analysis of the spread of capitalism to the regulation, ethics and exclusionary implications of business in contemporary society. The book also examines how corporate power and capitalism might be resisted and outlines a range of alternatives, from the social economy through to new forms of open access or commons ownership. This second edition includes new chapters that explore how global crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the climate emergency have exposed tensions within and among national business systems. It also addresses the need for new ways of holding business accountable in the era of digital platforms like Facebook, Google and Amazon, which use algorithmic personalization to exert private control over the infrastructure of our societies.