The Making of an Atlantic Ruling Class

With The Making of an Atlantic Ruling Class, Kees van der Pijl put class formation at the heart of our understanding of world politics and the global economy. This landmark study dissects one of the most decisive phenomena of the twentieth century—the rise of an Atlantic ruling class of multinational banks and corporations. A new preface by the author evaluates the book’s significance in the light of recent political and economic developments.“The research, clarity, and originality that characterize this book are impressive indeed.”—International History Review

“Poses a question so very important that it must be carefully studied.”—Times Literary Supplement

“The merits of this book are unusually great and most original.”—Gabriel and Joyce Kolko

“The Making of an Atlantic Ruling Class constitutes an important step forward in understanding the international dimension of class formation.”—American Journal of Sociology

“An excellent piece of work.”—Contemporary Sociology

“A masterfully intricate argument.”—Journal of Political and Military Sociology

“This is an important book. It is rich in detail yet highly analytical, innovative and, even more surprisingly, readily accessible.”—Millennium: Journal of International StudiesKees van der Pijl is Professor of International Relations at the University of Sussex and the author of The Foreign Encounter in Myth and Religion; Nomads, Empires, States; Global Rivalries from the Cold War to Iraq; and Transnational Classes and International Relations.