The Post-Corporate World: Life After Capitalism (AGENCY/DISTRIBUTED) - Softcover

"If you secretly wonder why the hyped promise of capitalism doesn't match the all too common and difficult struggle to make ends meet you will be fascinated by this account of where our economy went wrong and how we can change. Korten makes the economic principles that got us where we are today plain, simple, and accessible." --Vicki Robin, coauthor of Your Money or Your Life "Korten argues convincingly that Adam Smith would be appalled by much that Wall Street has done in recent decades, and he raises a host of provocative quesions about the emerging global economic order. Not everyone will agree with Korten's answers, but everyone will be enriched by considering his questions." --Denis Hayes, Chair and CEO, Earth Day 2000 "The Post Corporate World does for our view of corporatism what Betty Friedan did for our view of women and Rachel Carson did for our view of the environment. . . . Passionately and gracefully written. . . it will twist your mind about the world and how you are living in it." --Peter Block, author of Stewardship and The Empowered Manager "A refreshing signpost for the future." --Professor Klaus Schwab, President, World Economic Forum, Geneva "If you want to understand what is really happening in the world, read David Korten. The Post-Corporate World points to what must come next if human beings ard other creatures are to have a livable future." --John B. Cobb, Jr., Professor Emeritus of Religion, Claremont Graduate School, and coauthor of For the Common Good "An earthshaking book--a product of brilliant thinking from one of history's most groundreaking intellecutals and activists." --Lynne Twist, Co-chair, State of the World Forum

This work investigates the growing gap between the promises of new global capitalism and the reality of insecurity, inequality, social breakdown, spiritual emptiness and environmental destruction. It looks at what went wrong and offers solutions based on examples from new biology. The author examines ways in which economic values and institutions are shaped by certain beliefs about the nature and meaning of life. Modern societies have been shaped more than is realized, by beliefs embedded in the story told by Newtonian physics of a clockwork universe in which life is an accident and consciousness an illusion. This theory has led to the creation of competitive, individualistic, and materialistic societies grounded in a Hobbsian philosophy that there is no moral purpose to life and therefore good is merely that which brings pleasure and evil that which brings pain. This text outlines specific measures to free the creative powers of individuals and societies through the realization of a radical democracy, the local rooting of capital through stakeholder ownership, and a restructuring of the rules of commerce to create "mindful market" economies that combine market principles with a culture that nurtures social bonding and responsibility.