POLI 2F12 Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Marxism, Social Forces, Free Trade
27 Nov 2015
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Document Summary
Views business interest as having privileged position in influencing government policy making. Corporations have substantial financial resources and organizational capabilities. Also very important to the economic well-being of countries (and governments depend on them) Because of these factors business interests have guaranteed access to decision makers. Hear about government officials sitting down and talking to wealthy business but not lgbt activists, environmental activists, etc. Views capitalists society sharply divided into social classes. Sate and public policies are shaped by class interests, particularly the. Major decisions by canadian governments reflect this view. Free trade agreements, deregulation, privatization, reduction in corporate taxes all promote profitability of capitalists enterprise. Assumes social forces shape people"s ideas, not that they know what"s in their interest. Primarily concerned with gaining selective benefits from governments for their members. May be something as simple as local residents group, or something as massive as canadian association of petroleum produces.
