1 the power of the rich black hole of the social sciences? h.j.krysmanski, left forum, new york...
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The Power of the Rich
Black Hole of the Social Sciences?
H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006
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Between 1979 and 2003 the share of overall income received by the bottom 80 percent of taxpayers fell from 50 percent to barely over 40 percent. The main winners from this upward redistribution of income were a tiny, wealthy elite: More than half the income share lost by the bottom 80 percent was gained by just one-fourth of 1 percent of the population, people with incomes of at least $ 750,000 in 2003.
(Recent study by the IRS)
H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006
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Wealth in Capitalist SocietiesTypes of wealth Mechanisms of power Effects
The (super)-rich Class relationsFunctional elites
Economic capital
Wealth in terms of money
Capital accumulation in financial markets
Profiting by putting pressure on income distribution and social standardsPower of large creditors
vis a vis indebted statesRedistribution in favor of large creditors, milking of tax payers
Turning financial power into socio-cultural capital
Filling elite positions, pushing interests, defining reality
Lobbyism Influencing political decisions, legislation
H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006
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Wealth in terms of money (ct‘d)
Corruption Influencing decision-making, destroying the democratic process
FoundationsSponsoring biased socio-cultural projects, eroding the realm of public goods
Buying private security, hiring mercenaries
Privatization of foreign policy and internal security systems
Capital accumulation through production and services
Controlling all options of development
Social inequality between owners and wage-earners
Exploitation
Industrial wealth
Global outsourcing of production and services
Pressuring unions
Types of wealth Mechanisms of power Effects
H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006
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Extorting public services for private investors
Privatization of public services
Eroding the welfare state, footloose markets
City planning dependent on real estate owners, urban sprawl
Private profiting in real estate
Redistribution of wealth through rent, mortgage payments etc.
Expropriation of farmers in developing countries
Increasing social distances between the classes
Conspicuous consumption
Favoring networking among the rich
Real estate property
Consumptive wealth
Industrial wealth (ct‘d)
Types of wealth Mechanisms of power Effects
H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006
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Cultural capitalInternalized cultural capital
Elitism and cronyism Privatization of knowledge
Reproducing the power elite via elite education
Mythologizing meritocracy Legitimizing the power of capital by cultural means
Defining cultural heritage
Selective preservation of culture
Control of public access by representation
Demonstrating elitism, distance, power
Symbolizing social status
Control of upward mobility
Re-ified cultural capital
Incorporated cultural capital, titles etc.
Types of wealth Mechanisms of power Effects
H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006
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Social capitalResources based on stable social networks
Mutual support in attaining privileges, benefits etc.
Preserving elite status
Reproduction of power elites
Exclusion of outsiders
Informal power structures, erosion of democracy
Types of wealth Mechanisms of power Effects
H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006
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• Conspicuous consumption • Demonstration of status
• Mutual guarantee of privileges
• Privilege to fill elite positions
• Control of cultural heritage
• Network of foundations etc.
• Capital accumulation through production and services • Capital accumulation through financial transactions • Economizing real estate• Outsourcing production• Dependency of debt-ridden states on major creditors etc.
• Lobbyism • Corruption
• Public responsibilities vs.
privatization • Privatizing internal and external security
etc.
• Conversion of financial power into social and cultural
capital • Private control of public
sphere • Control of cultural
experience • Mythologizing plutocracy • De-temporalization etc.
Mechanisms of
Valorization
Mechanisms of
Privatization
Mechanisms of
Distribution
Mechanisms of
Informatization
Mechanismsof power
H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006
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Functional & Knowledge Elites(millions)
Political Elites(ten thousands)
Corporate & Financial Elites
(thousands)
The SUPERRICH(hundreds)
Mechanisms of
Privatization
Mechanisms of
Valorization
Mechanisms of
Distribution
Mechanisms of
Informatization
Actors
H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006
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Functional & Knowledge Elites
Political Elites
Corporate & Financial Elites
The SUPERRICH200 million – 50 billion $$
10 million – 200 million $$
100 thousand – 10 million $$ ... and more
100 thousand – 3 million $$
Mechanisms of
Privatization
Mechanisms of
Valorization
Mechanisms of
Distribution
Mechanisms of
Informatization
Net-worth
H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006
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Functional&
KnowledgeElites
PoliticalClass
Corporate&
FinancialCEOs
CLUBS MICRO-
NETWORKS
Think tanks Elite media
Elite universitiesFoundations
Elite institutions
CommissionsPlanning groups Pol. directorates
Lobbyists
Business councilsInterl. directoratesSuperlawyersFixers
Think tanksElite universities
Interlocking directoratesDiscussion groups
Foundations
Mechanisms of
Privatization
Mechanisms of
Valorization
Mechanisms of
Distribution
Mechanisms of
Informatization
TheSovereign
H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006
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A global power elite?
H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006
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Some Visuals
H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006
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Universitè tangente
H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006
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trustees $
trustees $
trustees $
members $
ideas,members
ideas
testimony,reports
testimony,reports
reports appointees
$
$
$
Corporate Community / Upper Class
Government
Foundations
Think Tanks
Policy Discussion Groups
Blue Ribbon CommissionsTask Forces
Universities
PolicyFormationNetwork(William Domhoff)
H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006
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‘Eastern Establishment’:Council on Foreign RelationsTrilateral Commission, Brookings Institution
Ultra-conservative Groups:Hoover Institution Heritage Foundation
Big Business Moderate Conservatives:Business RoundtableBusiness CouncilAmerican Enterprise Instituteetc.
Policy planning network
H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006
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http://www.theyrule.net/
H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006
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http://www.mediachannel.org/
H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Lombardi
H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006
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http://www.fas.at/business/en/galery/05.htm
H.J.Krysmanski, Left Forum, New York City, March 2006