site logo

Business-Managed Democracy

“Business-managed democracies are those in which the political and cultural arrangements are managed in the interests of business”

Sharon Beder

Business-Managed Government

Business Lobby Groups

The formation of business networks and coalitions to achieve political goals through a combination of public relations and political lobbying, originated in the US. However other nations followed. Whilst individual companies hire lobbying firms  to lobby government on particular issues of concern to them and industry associations lobby about industry concerns, businesses also form broader coalitions to lobby government on more general issues. Some of the major national business lobbying groups include:

USA - BRT USA - NAM Britain - CBI Britain - others Australia - BCA NZ - Rountable Europe - ERT

Most nations also have chambers of commerce at a local level and national level.

reference

In the UK the hundred or so local chambers are networked under the umbrella of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and cover 100,000 businesses large and small, which employ 30 percent of the nation’s workforce. The BCC claims to be ‘the national voice of local business’ and that its combined membership is able ‘to influence decision makers and shape policy to ensure the best possible environment for business to succeed’. It opposes regulation of business, including environmental and employment regulations.

The US Chamber of Commerce was organized by National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) in 1916.

back to top

European Union Lobbying

Source: 'The corporate lobby tour', Corporate Europe Observatory, 13 November 2014.
back to top

Links