The Challenges of Global Business Authority : Democratic Renewal, Stalemate, or Decay?

An astute assessment of democratic principles and decision-making structures in the global business world.

Business is being globalized with an immense speed, but are democratic practices and decision-making structures keeping pace? Contrary to those who see democracy as irrelevant or impossible at the global level, The Challenges of Global Business Authority analyzes three dimensions of democracy- participation, accountability, and transparency-in many transnational mechanisms that seek to align global business interests with the public interest. Looking beyond these mechanisms, this volume seeks to explore the fundamental issues affecting the relationship between democracy and global business authority, such as the structural power of business itself, and the contestations over the boundary between public and private. The essays in this volume provide concrete ways that business can be made more publicly accountable to allow democratic practices to take on a more permanent role in the global business world.