The author aims to find the systematic causal links between majorities and minor-ities, especially to demonstrate how, even as corporate governance systems change, the same links remained unchanged, at least starting from the original forms of limited liability (colonial) companies. The main cause of the oppression of minorities lies in the power of control, which instead of belonging to the major-ity of share capital holders, is held by close minority shareholders. For this pur-pose, the author presents a historical reconstruction of the problem concerning the balance of powers between dominant minorities and disjoint majorities within the groups of companies.
Keywords: Corporate governance, groups of companies, limited liability, dominant minorities, disjointed majorities.