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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

Pages 55–71

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.