The 'Good Cartel': Repurposing Corporate Strategies for Social Good
At a TEDxCanberra talk, Sarah Patterson challenges conventional thinking by suggesting that the strategies employed by cartels and large corporations—often associated with negative outcomes—can be repurposed for positive social change. She encourages the audience to consider how these tactics could be used to mobilize action and create a better future.
Understanding the Cartel Playbook
Patterson begins by illustrating the pervasive influence of large businesses in our daily lives. From the moment we wake up and engage with technology to our routine trips to the supermarket, big oil, big tech, and big grocery corporations exert considerable control. Patterson sheds light on the less visible ways these entities shape our world, noting that their actions often operate in a gray area, blurring the lines between ethical business practices and strategic manipulation.
Key Strategies of Big Business
Patterson identifies several key strategies employed by cartels and major corporations:
- Information Control: Big tech companies act as gatekeepers of online information, influencing social media feeds, search results, and news. Meanwhile, big oil and gas use propaganda to promote the necessity of their products.
- Data Exploitation: Big tech and big grocery firms track consumer activities to personalize advertising, encourage further spending, and replicate successful products on their platforms.
- Competition Restriction: Companies engage in practices such as 'banking land' to prevent competitors from entering the market. In Australia, the supermarket duopoly of Kohl's and Woolworths exemplify this, holding numerous undeveloped sites to stifle competition.
- Regulatory Navigation: With numerous global investigations against them, big tech firms strategically navigate legal frameworks, using appeals processes to delay penalties. They also invest heavily in lobbying to influence policy and media narratives.
Mobilizing for Good: A New Approach
Instead of casting blame, Patterson advocates for a strategic appropriation of the cartel playbook for positive ends. She urges individuals to adopt a 'Robin Hood' mentality, taking the tools used by powerful entities and applying them to create beneficial change.
Patterson outlines three actionable steps:
- Invest in Relationships: Cultivate diverse networks that span political divides and value chains.
- Seek External Opportunities: Identify chances to expand influence and resources, such as banking land or engaging with differing viewpoints.
- Support Change Makers: Empower and protect individuals who are already taking risks to drive change.
A Call to Action
Patterson concludes with an appeal to mobilize collective action. With less than five years to shape a positive future, she encourages the audience to leverage the cartel playbook for good, fostering a world that future generations can be proud of. By building strong relationships, seizing opportunities, and supporting those who take risks for change, Patterson believes we can create a powerful force for good.
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