This third edition of this text on business-government relations in industrialized societies has been revised to reflect the changes of the 1990s and 2000s. It focuses on the US, Britain, Germany, Scandanavia, Italy, France and Japan to show different models of business-government relations.

Globalization, violent protests against international organizations such as the World Trade Organization, and the surge in international trade have affected the way businesses now interact with governments. The new third edition of Graham Wilson's popular book on business-government relations in advanced industrialized societies has been completely revised to reflect the enormous changes that have taken place over the past decade. Wilson's helpful comparative perspective focuses on individual countries - U.S.A., Britain, Germany, Scandinavia, Italy, France, and Japan - to clearly illustrate different models of business-government relations. His in-depth exploration includes how government-business relations have been challenged by globalization and evaluation of its consequences for different countries.

1. Introduction: The business-government relationship. Types of policy and organisation of business. The political context. Purpose of business-government relations. 'Enemies' of business. The green challenge. The special challenge of 1992. Summary. 2. Business and Politics in the USA: Support for a capitalist market system. A bed of roses for business? Defending business interests: a multipronged approach. Modes of political participation. The impact of the Reagan Administration. Regulation. Industrial policy. State and local government. Conclusions. 3. Government and Business in Britain: Attitudes to business. Links to government. The industrial culture. The Conservative Party and the Thatcher decade. Thatcherism and business. The permanence of Thatcherism and the implications of the British case. 4. Germany: The general business environment. Business organisation. The evolution of policy from social market to neocorporatism? Future prospects. 5. Italy: The political context. Business organisations. The future. 6. The Neocorporatists Nations: The historic compromise. Definitions of neocorporatism. Where is neocorporatism? Why are some countries more neocorporatist than others? The performance of neocorporatist counties. Threats to neocorporatism. The future of neocorporatism. 7. Government and Industry in France: Dangers of capitalism. Organisation of business. The theory and reality of French planning. Why has industrial policy been institutionalised in France? Conclusions. 8. Japan: The organisation of business and its political situation. The organisation of the state. The nature of industrial policy. Managing change. The impact of policy. The exportability of the Japanese model. 9. The multinationals - Companies without Governments?: The transnational company. Economic impact. Multinationals and the Third World. The case for multinationals. Controlling the multinationals. Conclusions. 10. Conclusions: Economic structure. Electoral politics. State intervention in the economy. Business and normative theory.