The Overlap of Business and Politics

In William Pfaff's article "Why Europe Should Reject U.S. Market Capitalism," he argues that American capitalism has been tainted by large corporations and politics. As the country moves into the twenty-first century, companies are becoming more and more reliant of the financial contributions of politicians, which consequently harms public interest. Big business and politics have become so interdependent, they are now interchangeable as the "big bully," the enemy of the average American Joe that is a threat to the free market economy.

While I can see Pfaff's point of view (stories of corporations joining forces with politicians can be all too common), I think this does not necessarily have to be a problem. This interdependence is a consequence of an increasingly connected world, and globalization creates the need for both business and politics to reflect the interests of the other. Corporations cannot function effectively in their overseas centers (whether that be a Dell call center or a Nike sweatshop) without knowing the culture of the country. Likewise, politics have always been influenced by business, and trying to maintain peace with Turkey for its useful air stations is not that different from British colonization of the Americas for their natural resources.

Although Pfaff may see this intermingling as a capitalistic threat, it does not have to be so. Both sides can learn from the other to improve foreign relations, as well as further their own personal objectives. Businesses with good diplomatic relations will enjoy greater success through positive interactions with their suppliers, while politicians may have better diplomacy if they maintain peace for economic purposes, rather than make decisions from a purely militaristic point of view. While some may see the increased dependence of business and politics as a negative offshoot of globalization, when used wisely it can be turned into one of the twenty-first century's greatest assets.