Fighting corporate fascism and ending "corporate personhood" - Media resource list

[marmar]

From Reclaim Democracy: http://reclaimdemocracy.org/media_resources.html

Media Resources

BOOKS
Corporations & Democracy

The People's Business
by Charlie Cray and Lee Drutman
Focusing on the U.S., the authors provide a thorough analysis of corporate corruption of democracy and analyze multiple strategies for reform. A dense, rewarding read.

The Populist Moment: A Short History of the Agrarian Revolt in America
by Lawrence Goodwyn
The last structurally-focused challenge to corporate dominance came in the 1880s and 1890s. We have much to learn from both the Populists' successes and failures. Highly recommended for activists.


Overruling Democracy
by Jamin Raskin
Law Professor Raskin explores how the Constitution has been turned against citizens and justice in recent history and explores constitutional solutions to the Supreme Court's actions. Read capsule review


Gangs of America
by Ted Nace
Gangs provides rich historical detail about the growth of corporate power in the U.S. and the process by which corporations gained "personhood."
Read NY Times review

When Corporations Rule the World
by David Korten.
Korten offers a thorough, well-reasoned, and accessible analysis of the global corporate and financial system from an insider in the financial world.
Read capsule review


Unequal Protection
by Thom Hartmann
Traces the evolution of "corporate personhood," and offers new insights even to those already familiar with corporate history. Read our review


The Case Against the Global Economy, and for a Turn Toward the Local
Jerry Mander, ed.
A superb, diverse collection of essays by leading activists around the world.


Sam Smith's Great American Political Repair Manual
by Sam Smith.
Self-descriptive. Smith defies categorization under conventional labels while offering un-common sense solutions to many societal challenges.


The Open Media Series from 7 Stories Press
30 titles offer focused, concise introductions to specific issues, many directly related to the struggle between democracy & corporate power. For a list of titles see Seven Stories Press


The Divine Right of Capital
by Marjorie Kelly.
Kelly makes a provocative case for the need to challenge the supremacy of wealth in the corporate structure.


Defying Corporations, Defining Democracy
Edited by Dean Ritz. A collection of essays on democracy movement strategies from several writers. Buy it online from our merchandise page for $18.

The Corporate Policy Center lists more than 100 titles in this realm with brief reviews.
Community, Independent Business & Development

Big-Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America's Independent Businesses
by Stacy Mitchell (2006).
The definitive read for anyone concerned about independent businesses, communities, and how to prevent corporate chains from displacing locals. Her previous book on the topic, The Hometown Advantage, also is recommended.
This title can be ordered online from our merchandise page.


Making A Place for Community
by Williamson, Alperovitz and Imbroscio (2003)
A far-reaching and extensively researched exploration of politics, economics and strategies for localization that excels at linking economic democracy to political democracy. Read capsule review.
America Beyond Capitalism (2004) by Gar Alperovitz also is recommended.



Going Local
by Michael Shuman (1998)
Shuman offers an engaging look at the alternatives to community dependence on outside corporations.



Changing Places
by Richard Moe & Carter Wilkie, and Home From Nowhere by J.H. Kunstler are recommended explorations of community, sprawl, homogenization and community-centered alternatives.

Corporations & Education

Rethinking Globalization
An outstanding resource for parents and educators
Available online from our merchandise page ( $20)

Schools Our Children Deserve, Education Inc., and What to Look For in a Classroom
Alfie Kohn, ed.
The first title covers the dangers posed by high-stakes testing schemes and their pushers. The latter two are collections of short essays. Education Inc. compiles many writers and is directly focused on corporate influence.


Giving Kids the Business
by Alex Molnar
Molnar examines the corporate push to commercialize our schools. The book is a bit scattered, but a good exploration of the topic.

Media & Public Relations

Rich Media, Poor Democracy
by Robert McChesney
Recent trends in media concentration and its effects on democracy.


Toxic Sludge is Good For You
by John Stauber and Sheldon Rampton
This guide to the "PR" (public relations) industry explores the tactics corporations use to manipulate public opinion.


We the Media
by Don Hazen and Julie Winokur. Facts, commentary, ideas and resources from many leading journalists on the current state of media and suggestions for improvement.


The Media Monopoly
by Ben Bagdikian
This regularly updated classic documents the extent of media concentration, including internet and telecommunications.

Civil Liberties & Miscellaneous

Terrorism and the Constitution
by James X. Dempsey & David Cole
Analyzes the historical tendency of government to seize power and suppress our civil rights in times of war or conflict and the false premise of enhancing security through repression. Read capsule review


The Perpetual Prisoner Machine
by Joel Dyer
Iinvestigates the prison-industrial complex.


The Real War on Crime
Steven Donzieger, ed.
How the fear of crime, rather than crime itself, shapes criminal justice policy. Also covers the prison-industrial complex.


Burning all Illusions; a Guide to Personal and Political Freedom
by David Edwards
Examines corporate globalization's impact on the human mind and spirit. Self-help for freeing the mind.


No Logo
Naomi Klein examines the rise of branding and corporate impact on our culture.

*Any of the several readers on economics published by "Dollars and Sense" including Real World Macroeconomics and Real World Microeconomics Call them at [phone] for details.


Documentary Films
Independent America
This award-winning documentary follows the travels of two journalists as they explore the battle between hometown businesses and transnational chains. Includes interviews with ReclaimDemocracy.org staff. Available in 52 or 80 minute edits (we have a limited number of copies for sale at $20 -- contact us to inquire).

The Corporation
The feature documentary analyzes the nature of the corporate institution, its impacts on our planet, and what people are doing in response. It will be shown at a limited number of venues in North America beginning in May, 2004 before general release. See the above link for schedule and details. Read a review of "The Corporation."

Fear and Favor in the Newsroom
Beth Sanders offers thorough and convincing first-hand accounts of how corporate media constricts the free flow of ideas and information on which democracy depends. Outstanding. 1 hour.

The Take
Near Buenos Aires, thirty unemployed auto-parts workers walk into their idle factory, roll out sleeping mats, and refuse to leave. All they want is to re-start the silent machines. This simple act is an inspiring and compelling story of citizens claiming power.

Global Village or Global Pillage
Jeremy Brecher shows constructive ways that ordinary people are addressing the impacts of global corporatization. 27 min.


Specialized Periodicals
Multinational Monitor
watchdogs transnational corporations.

PR Watch
investigates the public relations industry and reveals manipulation of "news."

Dollars and Sense
critiques corporate economics.

The CATO Journal
published by the libertarian/"free market" CATO institute. While endorsing much of the corporate agenda, CATO has the ideological consistency to oppose most corporate welfare and governemnt favoritism The Journal is a dense read.

Rethinking Schools
tracks privatization and commercialism, among other current educational issues.

Know the corporate perspectives! Read an occasional issue of The Economist, Forbes, Business Week, Wall St. Journal or other corporate-friendly periodicals. The latter two consistently offer excellent investigative reporting.

[Fridays Child]

1. Bookmarked. Looks like a good reading list.

[marmar]

6. Good idea....

I posted this and still forgot to bookmark it. :)

[stonecoldsober]

2. I highly recommend "The Corporation".

[marmar]

3. Agreed. That film is singularly responsible for the evolution in my thinking on this...

It ought to be mandatory viewing in high school.

[zeemike]

4. And it should be talked about in the media

But the corporation dominates that too.

[marmar]

5. Exactly....

Frankly I'm shocked that it stuck around in theaters as long as it did. I'm surprised retailers such as Barnes and Noble and Borders even carry it. But then again, that just proves Michael Moore's point in the movie: They'll give you the rope to hang themselves with if they can make a buck off of it.