SOCIAL ETHICS OF CORPORATE ANTHEM

The article reviews the history of anthems in the context of emergence and development of corporate anthems and also considers the latter as one of the highest points of development of modern corporate ethics codes. Corporate ethics is often viewed as a closed sphere which serves certain corporate purposes and doesn't concern people not involved in corporate life. Nevertheless, the mere existence of corporate anthems signifies that large corporations are more than mere commercial enterprises in the modern world; some aspects of their activity show that their impact on corporate workers' lives includes influences which affect their civic consciousness and also the relationship between state and citizens, thus changing the social life. The idea of anthem which was connected with manifestations of national identity or religious practice throughout centuries is undergoing great changes nowadays. There are many other communities besides nations and religions which claim their rights to have their own anthems. Large corporations strive to concentrate social and sometimes even governmental functions within themselves, and corporate anthems serve as symbols of this transformation.