Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book argues about “setting the company free” when The Company Act of 1862 completed the legal construction of the modern corporation. It provides a stimulating and much broader overview of the contests of corporate power over the last century plus. The book explores broader politicised view as people believe the running of corporations is just too important to be viewed from narrowed perspectives. It focuses on corporate governance as the way in which people struggle to get control and power over the corporation, which also includes collaboration for common goals as ideals. The book provides some historical evidence on the development of capitalism seen through the lens of corporate “governance,” broadly intended. It presents a very complex picture of the corporate governance situation and show that there is no discernible development towards some kind of global convergence between nations and corporations.