corporate-sovereignty
The idea of a corporation buying a sovereign state to gain political power and a seat at the United Nations.
1 chapter across 1 book
The Business (1999)Iain Banks
The chapter details the Business's strategic acquisition of the Himalayan principality of Thulahn to secure a United Nations seat, illustrating the interplay of corporate ambition and geopolitical maneuvering. It further explores elite social rituals and power dynamics through a high-level dinner discussing the chaotic post-Soviet Russian political and economic landscape, highlighting skepticism about its capitalist transition. The chapter culminates in a morally complex debate on political violence and discipline, juxtaposing historical parallels with contemporary ethical dilemmas and intimate personal boundaries.