Financialization through hybridization: The subtle power of financial controlling

Globalization, financialization, neoliberalization: these concepts, although widely mobilized, are usually defined in a rather abstract, theoretical way. Their use seems to suggest that contemporary societies are caught up in an overwhelming general trend of redefining an ever-increasing number of issues and settings in economic and financial terms. These definitions usually highlight one central actor, namely the markets, especially capital markets, and one key set of mechanisms, namely regulation. This chapter seeks to advance understanding of how these notions materialize and operate in a concrete setting, and thereby contribute to debates about financial management in organizations and society.