Lack of shady corporation in fluff?

[Jareddm]

The largest example I can think of is the Devayne Incorporation in the Calixus Sector, which if we're using the real world definition, would mean they're sort of a pre-corporation.  They do buy and sell thralls and raw materials across the sector, and are seen as one of the key driving factors of the sector's economy.

 

There's also the Skaelen-Har Hegemony, which is referred to as a corporation responsible for heavy manufacturing within the sector.

Edited September 10, 2020 by Jareddm

[Snazzy]

There’s no such thing as a corporation in any modern sense in 40K because there was no such thing as a corporation in the dark and bronze ages. Merchant guilds, bankers, sure, but not in an meaningful analogous comparison to like Apple.

 

Corporations as they have been described in 40K tend to be cartels given sanction by the Imperium or a higher member of the nobility appointed by the Imperium to fulfill a responsibility to the Imperium.  Rogue Traders are a great example of this.  It isn't enough for interstellar corporations to expand trade between worlds on their own.  An agent of the Imperium has to be given charter and powers to facilitate expanded trade, expanded frontiers, negotiations with xenos powers, etc.  In a sense, Rogue Traders are a corporation of one.  The idea of a faceless board making decisions is fulfilled by the Administratum itself.

 

I think people underestimate just how much of the condition of the Imperium is intentional.  Death Worlds could be tamed.  Feudal Worlds could be advanced.  Overpopulated Hive Worlds are left as is to produce tithes of violent hive scum.

[Marshal Rohr]

As I said, in any modern sense, that’s not a real corporation. Edited September 10, 2020 by Marshal Rohr

[Inquisitor Eisenhorn]

Yeah to build on what others have said, there doesn't appear to be the modern concept of private property in the Imperium, which would be necessary for a private corporation to exist. In practice a planetary Governor may rule in a manner similar to how a corporation is run in order to deliver the planets material tithes, but technically they are all the property of the Imperium and could be replaced by another ruler if the tithes aren't met. It really is quite different to other sci-fi settings in that way.

[Anthalt]

Wasn't Fulgrim's origin story basically him becoming the CEO of a failing business and making it so profitable it literally took over the planet?

[sarabando]

in necropolis by dan Abnett its a greedy corporate lacky who refuses to close the fuel pipes to the neighbouring hive allowing the enemy to roll tanks through it and in Bloodpact its a trader taking bribes that allows the pact to sneak onto the world.

[Lord_Caerolion]

As many have said already, the only organizations that span the Imperium are the assorted Adeptus Terra. There are definitely trading consortiums, merchant guilds, trading fleets and the like out there, they just don't have the influence to affect more than a Sector or so at most. 40ks whole schtick is the horrors of bureaucracy anyway, not evil companies selling out humanity for profit. I mean, it definitely happens, just look at Hive Worlds, it's just a different organization, or group of organizations, on each world.

[Special Officer Doofy]

I think you just described the AdMech?

That was a good laugh! Hahaha

[Doghouse]

The Imperium is set in a big universe managed by an archaic and insanely large organisation where travel and communication between worlds can take decades or centuries, then you have those that lie beyond their control or who have been cut off or never even made contact.

 

I think it's fair to say that there could be civilisations of every type ranging from the lowest depths of a Hive World to almost utopian civilisations. I have absoultely no doubt that somewhere out there something like what yiou described exists.

 

You could easily explain away a planet's PDF as private corporate security forces just as easily as gangers conscripted into fuedal service of a planet governor.

 

GW have always said that 40k is a vast place with unlimited possibilties with all sorts of reasons for worlds being cut off like warps storms or technological collapse.

Edited September 10, 2020 by Doghouse