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Math­i­as Hein Jessen

Associate Professor

Emner
Erhvervsjura Politik Demokrati Virksomheder Historie Samfund

Primary research areas

Political theories of the corporation

I am interested in how to conceive the corporation as not just an economic and legal entity, but as a political and historical entity, and from a number of different vantage points such as philosophy, intellectual history, history, sociology and political theory.

Intellectual history of the corporation

I am interested in how we came to think of the corporation and its role in society in the way that we do. I trace the historical, intellectual and conceptual struggles over the corporation and its purpose, constituents, governance and aim in order to cast light on the role of the corporation in society today.

Political power of the corporation

I am interested in the political power and influence of corporations in contemporary society. To understand that it is central to approach the corporation from a number of different vantage points.

Corporate governance

I am interested in alternative ways of governing corporations, such as for instance workplace democracy, economic democracy, enterprise ownership, cooperative ownership, fiduciary governance, economic and planning.

I am interested in the role and power of corporations in society

I am an Associate Professor at the Department of Business Humanities and Law at CBS. He holds a B.Sc. in Business Administration and Philosophy from CBS and an MA and PhD in The History of Ideas from Aarhus University.  

My research centers on the history of political, economic and legal thought as well as contemporary social, political and critical thought. I work in the cross-field between philosophy, politics, economics, law, sociology, history and intellectual history. His work focuses on the interrelation between state and market particularly between the state and the corporation. 

I am particularly interested in the role and power of corporations in society, and my current research focuses on the intellectual history of the corporation, that is, how we have come to think of corporations and their role in society, purpose, constituents and governance in the way that we have. This has significant consequences for how we understand corporations and their role in society, and also how they can be regulated, reformed or transformed. Additionally, I am also interested in alternative ways of governing the corporation and the economy in general, such as employee ownership, workplace democracy, economic democracy, cooperative ownership, enterprise-foundations and economic and democratic planning. 
 

Recent research projects

Corporate Subjects: An Intellectual History of the Corporation

The research project is a Semper Ardens Accelerate Grant funded by the Carlsberg Foundation. It consists of me, one postdoc and one PhD.
https://www.corporatesubjects.com

Outside activities

Board member of Frydenlund Fonden

I am a board member of Fonden Frydenlund, a foundation which controls the publishing house Frydenlund.