Introduction
One of the determining elements affecting the functioning of democracy in modern times has been the concentration of corporate power. In his book, Crouch (33) makes the case that as nations become more unequal, the corporate elites’ increasing power and riches have created the privileged position that has always been the hallmark of dominating classes. Crouch’s main idea is that multinationals have become more powerful and influential, which has decreased state legitimacy and authority, thus having a detrimental effect on democracy.
The Implications of Power Concentration on Democracy
The power and influence over politically significant news and information are increasingly in the hands of a small group of highly wealthy individuals. Politics and other news are now viewed as very short-term consumer purchases, with the media’s business model having prevailed over previous ideas of mass political communication. This is exactly what Collin (49) refers to when he writes that “the consumer has triumphed over the citizen.” In modern society, people focus more on their duties as customers than on their roles as citizens.
Control over the broadcast of information and news is now concentrated in the hands of a select few as a result of the concentration of media ownership in the hands of a limited number of affluent people. In turn, this has made it harder for regular citizens to fully engage in the democratic process, which is what Crouch (Colin Crouch “Post-Democracy” 5:15) refers to as “the negative forces preventing the construction of a good social Europe.” The decrease in state power and legitimacy is also a result of the government’s increasing reliance on the knowledge and skills of top business executives and corporate executives. Parties find it difficult to be sensitive to people’s concerns because they feel bound by the media’s influence when they create their agendas.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a decline in governmental legitimacy and authority stems from the concentration of corporate power, which has substantially impacted how democracy functions. It has become increasingly difficult for regular citizens to fully participate in the political process as a result of the growth of phantom firms. The decrease in governmental authority and legitimacy is also a consequence of governments’ increasing reliance on the knowledge and skills of business elites. It is crucial to encourage more variety and competition in the media sector and to lessen the influence of phantom firms in order to address this problem.
Works Cited
“Colin Crouch “Post-Democracy” – Interview.” YouTube, uploaded by thebalancebeam, Web.
Crouch, Collin. “The Global Firm: The Key Institution of the Post-Democratic World.” Post-Democracy, edited by Collin Crouch, Wiley, 2004, pp. 31–52.