The transnational capitalist class and the discourse of globalisation

Abstract

Transnational corporations (TNCs), the transnational capitalist class (TCC) and the culture‐ideology of consumerism are the three building blocks of what is termed ‘global system theory’, an attempt to conceptualise capitalist globalisation. This articles focuses on the transnational capitalist class and its four fractions: owners and controllers of TNCs and their local affiliates; globalising bureaucrats and politicians; globalising professionals; and consumerist elites (merchants and media). The purpose of the article is to explain how combinations of these fractions of the transnational capitalist class have captured the discourses of globalisation, competitiveness and sustainable development to further the interests of global capital. It is concluded that these obfuscate the two central crises of capitalist globalisation ‐ the class polarisation crisis and the ecological crisis ‐ and that other, non‐capitalist ways of resolving these issues are urgently required.