Antitrust in a Political Environment

The practice of antitrust is not independent of the political environment in which it operates. This article examines the role of political forces in determining actual antitrust outcomes. Its focus is on the sources of support for this policy and the ways in which this support influences what in fact gets done. The FTC suit against Exxon and the other major petroleum companies is an example of the intervention of political forces in the antitrust process and this case is examined in some detail. Finally, this article draws some conclusions as to what can realistically be expected from antitrust policy.