Global Reach: The Power of the Multinational Corporations

by Richard J. Barnet, Ronald E. Müller

Describes and assesses the current operations and future plans of the global corporations and their managers, their crucial role in dominating the world economy, and their impact on individuals and governments

Genres: Nonfiction

508 pages, paper

First published January 1, 1974

Reviews

[Markus · Rating 4 out of 5]

An impressive early take on the globalization of business and finance. Barnet and Müller present a critical analysis of the business practices of the US-based "global corporations" in the early 1970s and draw a picture of the global political economy which is depressingly familiar to their 21st century reader. This is a world of concentrating ownership, decreasing competition, exacerbating economic, social and ecological crises. It is a world in which big business is exercising growing power over markets and politics through its unrivalled financial, technological means and capacity to disperse the ideology of consumerism. And it is a world where the corporate-banking intelocks are largely capable of circumventing public control, taxes and regulations through the use of intacorporate trade, transfer pricing and tax havens. Indeed, it seems that very little has changed in the 40 years following this early critique of the power of multinationals.

What makes the study particularly interesting is the way Barnet and Müller, in the first part of the book, outline the emerging global outlook of the US corporate elite. According to the interpretation of the authors, the top executives of the rapidly transnationalising US companies are promoting a vision of the world without borders where capital and goods are allowed to flow freely. Indeed, the study works as a welcome reminder that the so-called globalization discourse of the 1990s had a long precedent and that the corporate elites have always shared an essentially non-national outlook when seeking profits and greater efficiency. But it was only in the 1960s, due to advances in technology and administration and their growing financial capacities, that business executive began to extensively organise their operations on a global scale.

[Kevin Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant, as demonstrated by its continued value in illuminating the deep true trends behind current events decades later.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Agree dated now but was a strong read

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the first books on globalization

[Julian Pritchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Early critique of globalization.