How the Corporate Structure Differs from Capitalism, and Rules the World

Sunday Morning at the Marxist Library

How the Corporate Structure Differs from Capitalism, and Rules the World
The corporate structure (meaning both that of individual corporations and the global corporate system), in its present globalized form, has not divided the world into competing sectors or empires, but rather has divided the global economy into a dual stratified system composed of a dominant financial economy and a dependent productive economy. The financial economy has the power to determine or condition the fate of the productive, and to materially determine what happens in electoral offices at any level of government (not via contributions or lobbying). In addition, since the financial economy is not productive, but parasitic on the productive economy, and on capitalism itself, the power of the working class is displaced. Only a few nations have taken preliminary steps (incompletely in each case) to offset the power of direct corporate control – these include Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, and China. But the degree of globalization of the corporate structure, its power over production, nations, and cultures, and its destructiveness and despoliations toward all of these, including the planet, are not the result of a “ruling elite’s” avaricious desires, sadism, or greed. They are all the logical extensions of inherent structural processes within the corporate structure itself. This talk will examine some of those structural drives and needs, and how they have displaced and even rendered irrelevant human concerns. And it will discuss some of the weak points in this structure, beyond those of class. Steve Martinot will present and lead our discussion of this important topic.

Sunday, February 8, 2015 - 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
6501 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland (just North of Alcatraz Ave.)

Seating is limited, so plan to come early. We start promptly.
FREE - but hat will be passed for donations to NPML

About Sunday Morning at the Marxist Library
A weekly discussion series inspired by our respect for the work of Karl Marx and our belief that his work will remain as important for the class struggles of the future as they have been for the past.

For info or to subscribe to our weekly announcements,
Call Gene Ruyle at 510-428-1578 or email: cuyleruyle [at] mac.com
For our full schedule, go to icssmarx.org