The efforts of multinationals to control their environments also extend into the realm of politics itself. As is well known, big corporations often use
their immense lobbying power to shape the political agenda and to create
political outcomes favorable to themselves. In this, perhaps more than any
other single activity, the political significance of multinationals as world
powers comes to the fore, as they are often in a position to exert major influence
on host governments, especially when a nation is critically dependent
on their presence or on some aspect of their operations. While the issues on
which a multinational wishes to exert its influence are usually economic, the
corporation often becomes directly and sometimes illegally involved in the
political process. For example, when the economic aims and objectives of a
multinational are in conflict with the line of development favored by a host
government, it is very easy for the multinational to become embroiled in
activities designed to shape the economic and social policies of the government.
As a result, it may be drawn into the political arena and become explicitly
political and ideological in its activities, although usually acting behind
the scenes. The classic and infamous case is ill's involvement in the affairs
of Chile, where it plotted in 1970 to stop the election of Marxist president
Salvador Allende. Conspiring with the CIA, m sought to create economic
chaos within Chile and tlrus to encourage a military coup, with the company
offering to contribute "up to seven figures" to the White House to stop
Allende coming to power.