A Twenty-First Century Guild

Abstract

Abstract A guild model, adapted for the twenty-first century, is put forward as the basis for a more developed civic polity. A “second wave” in human rights is increasingly evident in the corporate sector, and comes under the rubric of environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG). The developments include a gradual shift to stakeholder (as opposed to stockholder) principles. Building upon ESG developments, a prescriptive guild can address several concerns. It can provide an alternative pathway to political engagement, based on a model of “juridical democracy,” confronting distrust and shoring up the legitimacy of the state. Such a guild can thus serve as a nexus of citizenship. This includes choosing members, including those who are not yet citizens. Such a role for the corporation is especially germane now as the corporation is extraordinarily important in shaping people’s lives and the world itself, from the environment to human rights.