Corporatocracy
How to Protect Democracy from Dark Money and Corrupt Politicians
by Ciara Torres-Spelliscy
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Pub Date Nov 05 2024 | Archive Date Not set
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Description
Reveals how corporate greed led to scandal, corruption, and the January 6th insurrection—and how we can stop it from happening again
Donald Trump’s false claims of election fraud and the violence of the Capitol riot have made it unavoidably clear that the future of American democracy is in peril. Unseen political actors and untraceable dark money influence our elections, while anti-democratic rhetoric threatens a tilt towards authoritarianism.
In Corporatocracy, Ciara Torres-Spelliscy reveals the role corporations play in this dire state of political affairs, and explains why and how they should be held accountable by the courts, their shareholders, and citizens themselves. Drawing on key Supreme Court cases, Torres-Spelliscy explores how corporations have, more often than not, been on the wrong side of history by working to undermine democratic norms, practices, and laws. From bankrolling regressive politicians to funding ghost candidates with dark money, she shows us how corporations subvert the will of the American people, and how courts struggle to hold them and corrupt politicians accountable.
Corporations have existed far longer than democracies have. If voters, consumers, and investors are not careful, corporations may well outlive democracy. Corporatocracy brings all of these shadowy tactics to light and offers meaningful legal reforms that can strengthen and protect American democracy.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9781479828326 |
| PRICE | $32.00 (USD) |
| PAGES | 336 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Lee S, Reviewer
Thank you NYU Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I finished Corporatocracy: How To Protect Democracy From Dark Money And Corrupt Politicians, by Ciara Torres-Spelliscy.
Part 1 of the book is about corporate power and now it not only destroys our political system but also presents the threat for another January 6-like attempt to destroy the government.
The chapter on how corporate interests enabled the Nazis to rise to power in Germany was one of the strengths of the book. It provides a good historical parallel to how corporate interests can turn a country into an authoritarian state.
Most Americans are unaware that the prohibition against slavery in the Thirteenth Amendment contains an exception: “except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.” The book explains how corporations have done a good job exploiting that loophole in order to get free labor. As one commentator wrote, “Arrest rates responded more to fluctuations in the demand for labor than in the crime rate.” The chapter covering this topic was the most appalling in the book. And while the practice is not as bad as it was in the past, the problem remains to this day.
Part 2 of the book is on how America’s voting system, in general is in jeopardy. Most of that discussion is modern day problems, but it also historical precedents, such as the Watergate scandal (which as the book points out was far more than just a break-in and cover-up).
The chapter entitled The Big Lie was one of the best chapters in the book. It was, of course, about Trump’s lies regarding the 2020 election.
Part 3 of the book is on solutions to the problems.
The chapter on the disqualification clause of the 14th Amendment was also another one of the best chapters in the book. The book thoroughly reviewed the cases of Madison Cawthorn and Trump and was even updated enough to include the Supreme Court’s infamous decision in the latter. The Supreme Court has closed the door to this remedy, but actually following what purports to be “the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby” is still an excellent way to handle things.
I gave this book an A+, which also means the book is inducted into my Hall of Fame. Amazon, Goodreads and NetGalley require grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, an A+ equates to 5 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).
This review has been posted at NetGalley and Goodreads. It will also be posted at Amazon, as soon as the book is released to the public and I will also be posting it at my new book review blog, Mr. Book’s Book Reviews, which I expect to have up and running later in the week.
