The Corporate Security State
by William P. Meyers

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Definition. The term "corporate security state" is a descriptor for how and why the United States of America and most other modern states are governed. It is a broad term, subject to interpretation, but it captures the following basic facts:

1. The power of the ruling class both derives from and is executed through its preferred means of economic control, the for-profit business corporation.
2. The security of the ruling class's corporations is paramount. This includes:
   A. Legal security. The ability of corporations to prevail in court against individuals and any uncooperative aspect of government.
   B. Economic security. The ability to assure that the vast majority of wealth and income is controlled by the ruling class through their corporations.
   C. Political security. The ability to assure that the political system will reinforce, not weaken, the power of the ruling class and its corporations.
   D. Data security. The ability of corporations to have access to data on individuals while preventing their having access to corporate, governmental, and military data is critical to the success of the corporate security state.
   E. Military security. The use of violence and force to obtain any economic or political end is reserved to corporations and the state. This includes international violence (war and counter-insurgency), national violence (homeland security), and local violence (police).
   
3. The state, or government, has the ultimate responsibility of protecting ruling class interests.

The corporate security state system has evolved over time, is not yet perfected, and at times comes into conflict with itself. It is similar to, and evolved from, the military industrial complex. Aspects of it are international in scope, exercised through organizations such as international corporations, the United Nations, the World Bank, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and even many non-governmental organization (NGOs).