John Carpenter's <i>They Live</i> (1988) similarly draws the borderless-corporations/alien-invasion parallel.<p>Many of Stross's comments about corporations also apply to governments. (I think the future will view nation-states as a special case of corporation, moreso than corporations as a subordinate creation of governments.)<p>And if this is the dystopia, started in the 19th century and accelerating in the last few decades, created by these 'aliens' – well, objectively, many will prefer it to the alternatives. Life expectancy is up, war is down. The 'corporate system' has lifted a billion-plus out of poverty in the last 20 years, while the 'rival paradigm' of Communism that Stross notes once 'held [the corporate system] at bay' gave people none of economic comfort, social freedom, or political voice.
He's also touched on this in Accelerando somewhat. He had corporations combined with AIs to create an economic situation far beyond human understanding.