It would be hugely embarrassing, with Beckham sidelined as a massive monument to Ferguson's all-consuming desire for control.

BBC: Beckham's transfer options

However, it is a tenacious company with a lot of money behind it, an appetite for wireless, and a desire for control over everything it does.

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The two factors that stand out the most for me is a desire for greater control over their lives and the need for personal income generation.

FORBES: I Couldn't Care Less About Your Boxes- Defining Micro Entrepreneurs

"What we need to understand is that the male power and the male desire for the control of the woman's body and the woman's sexuality -- the honor resides in that sort of understanding and the ownership of women's body and sexuality, " he said.

CNN: Family convicted in Canada 'honor murders'

The spread of birth control and a desire for smaller families tend to accompany economic growth and development almost everywhere.

ECONOMIST: China's family planning

Another driver for overseas deals is the desire of Chinese firms to control global brands.

BBC: Viewpoint: Why Chinese firms buy Western rivals

ECB, because there is a tension within Europe between the desire for more integration and a reluctance to cede national political control.

ECONOMIST: European Central Bank

Driven by the public's desire for the nitty-gritty of celebrity life and celebrities' moves to control--and profit from--their images, the photos on our list are testament to a maturing market worth tens of millions.

FORBES: Magazine Article