Globalisation, Big Business and the Blair Government

Abstract

After reviewing definitions of globalisation, this paper suggests that the ‘company state model is becoming increasingly important in business-government relations. It is argued that Prime Minister Blair has a particular construction of globalisation which fits in well with the agenda of big international business. However, increasing tensions have arisen in the relationship between New Labour and business, reaching crisis point in May 2000. The paper concludes by suggesting that Burnham’s depoliticisation thesis arrives at the right conclusion using the wrong methodology.