Titans of Capital

About Titans of Capital

A fascinating examination of the rapid concentration of global capital, with chapters that focus on China and Russia.

Explores how fewer and larger investment companies now manage the excess financial wealth of the world’s 40 million richest people, to the detriment of everyone else and the global environment.

Political sociologist Peter Phillips examines the global economy to demonstrate how networks of wealthy individuals have evolved since the COVID-19 pandemic—and how the financial investments of transnational elites threaten human rights and the future of the planet. Focusing on private capital investments, military spending, and the propaganda machine, he poses three key research questions: 

• To what extent do the wealthy influence—or even dominate—decision making that affects all of us in society? 
• Who are the most powerful people? 
• How does the accumulation of capital work? 

• Private capital investments serve as the primary operating funds for international arms sales, private prisons, and other socially negative activities. These investments fuel the continued use of carbon-based energy leading to amplified global warming and climate change.
• Military spending is a critical component of continued wealth concentration and political power in the world. Spending on arms and intelligence is a required aspect of maintaining global power and control.  Dealing with Russia, China, Iran and other “rogue” states is a continuing agenda for agents of the world power elites.
• Propaganda machines in Western capitalist governments serve to protect elite wealth by promoting military conflicts to open new regions for economic investment.