Almost everywhere we look, we can find the workings of the corporation. Their impacts can be found in the water we drink and the air we breathe. They are in our food, our culture, and our politics. They are an all-pervasive presence in the life of everyone on this planet. And yet we seldom examine what exactly a corporation is, how it works, who controls them, and what benefits and impacts they have on our lives. As we find ourselves in the tenacious grip of a global financial crisis, the need to scrutinize the role and function of corporations is now more important than ever. Adam Ma'anit traces the development of the corporation from its early origins to its modern incarnation, explaining its make-up and demonstrating the power it holds through wealth, lobbying, and the "revolving door" with government. He shows how to tackle some of the core problems associated with corporate power in the first steps of the movement towards a more sustainable and equitable future. Adam Ma'anitis a long-time activist and writer on issues of social, economic, and environmental policy, and has previously worked as co-editor of the New Internationalistmagazine and with corporate watchdog group Corporate Europe Observatory and the Transnational Institute. He is co-author of Europe Inc.: Regional and Global Restructuring and the Rise of Corporate Power, as well as numerous reports on corporate lobbying, trade, and climate politics. He is currently an energy policy analyst and campaigner at Platform based in London, England.