Corporate Capitalism and the Integral State: General Electric and a Century of American Power

This book argues that the state has actively mobilized business and organized lobbying groups to shape the political power of the capitalist class in the US. It traces the role of the General Electric Company as a pillar of the integral state from the finance capital period to the age of neoliberalism.

Format: Hardback
Length: 380 pages
Publication date: 29 March 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This book presents a groundbreaking perspective on the intricate relationship between state and corporate power in the United States. Through the lens of an Institutional Marxist framework, author Maher makes a compelling argument that the state has not merely reacted to the pressures of interest groups but has actively played a pivotal role in politically mobilizing business entities. Moreover, the state has actively engaged in the organization of lobbying groups, which are not merely vehicles for expressing the pre-existing interests of their corporate members but rather mechanisms through which the state orchestrates the political power of the capitalist class. This book is part of a broader narrative that the author refers to as an "integral state," a comprehensive network of state power that permeates and intersects the state bureaucracy, legislature, industrial policy apparatus, and corporate governance.

Drawing upon extensive archival research, this book meticulously traces the role of the General Electric Company as a central pillar of the integral state in the United States across three distinct periods: the finance capital era (1880 to 1930), the managerial era (1930-1979), and the restructuring that paved the way for neoliberalism (1979-present). By examining the historical trajectory of General Electric, the book sheds light on the ways in which the state has shaped and influenced the corporate landscape, as well as the complex dynamics between state and corporate power in the United States.

This book offers a valuable contribution to the study of political economy and governance, providing a fresh and insightful perspective on the complex interplay between state and corporate power in the United States. It will be of interest to scholars, researchers, and policymakers alike, as it sheds light on the mechanisms through which the state organizes and controls corporate behavior, and the implications of this relationship for economic and social policy.

Weight: 662g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030837716
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022