Towards a Stakeholder-Shareholder Theory of Corporate Governance: A Comparative Analysis

This article sets forth an argument as to why the empowerment of stakeholder investors presents the only currently viable means for stakeholders to influence the behavior of the American public corporation. The article explores the history of corporations in America, Germany, and the United Kingdom and analyzes the disparate theories of corporate governance between the countries. Through this analysis, it will become clear that: (1) of the various interests having control over corporate decision-making, shareholders can best accommodate stakeholder interests; (2) stakeholder interests can be represented in corporate management and decisionmaking; and (3) the empowerment of stakeholder-shareholders can reform corporate governance in the United States.