Empires of Profit

Ranging from the East India Company, through United Fruits in Guatemala and incorporating the modern era of oil giants in the Middle East, Empires of Profit tells a series of dramatic stories from the past and present to illustrate the greed, benevolence, and ignorance of western business in the developing world. The stories – which are at times a shocking reminder of the origins of the present-day anti-capitalist movement – illustrate the extremely delicate and volatile nature of western involvement in the developing world. The message that emerges is clear : unless the lessons of the past are heeded – and corporate social responsibility taken seriously – the current wave of investment will be far less secure than most corporations believe.